BBC PRN Exercise Specialist

About the role

The Exercise Specialist provides clinical support to Cardiovascular Services and/or Cardiac / Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Responsibilities

• Performs all physician-ordered non-invasive cardiology tests, such as 12 lead and signal averaged EKGs, a variety of cardiac stress tests in CVS and Nuclear Medicine, Holter and event monitoring, and EKGs.
• Supervises stress tests and assists physicians and other professionals in stress testing or particularly delicate or sensitive testing situations.
• Supervises pharmaceutical stress tests and administers Lexiscan and Definity per department policy.
• Supervises Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase II and Phase III monitoring of patients.
• Prescribes phase II patients with exercise prescriptions per department policy.
• Works with cardiac rehab Phase II and Phase III patients, supervising patient exercise, determining patient exercise prescriptions, and performing body fat analysis.
• Documents patient performance and individual treatment plans.
• Demonstrates proficiency in managing PC applications and strong organizational skills to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Uses strong assessment and critical thinking skills to determine appropriateness of patient test protocols and end points of tests.
• Recognizes critical arrhythmias and communicates effectively with patients and team members.

Functions in Noninvasive Cardiology

• Familiarizes patient with test to be performed and obtains relevant information from the patient and clinical records.
• Monitors equipment during testing, makes adjustments as necessary, and informs physician or staff of EKG abnormalities.
• Performs EKGs when patient condition warrants and supervises administration of stress tests.
• Evaluates patient for test appropriateness and discusses alternatives with the ordering physician.
• Prepares labs, patients, and equipment for procedures, including placing electrodes, leads, pulse ox, and B/P equipment.
• Administers Lexiscan and Definity per procedure and explains procedures to patients.
• Obtains medication from Pyxis for Nuclear Medicine Stress Tests and administers Definity during stress echoes.
• Performs clerical functions such as answering phones, scheduling cases, arranging transport, and acquiring patient demographic information.
• Attaches electrodes, applies event and Holter monitors, and instructs patients in their use.
• Performs Holter scanning, adjusts scanner controls, and prints abnormal heart patterns for physician interpretation.
• Enters patient information, test results, charges, and other data into the computer.
• Performs minor preventive maintenance on equipment, cleans, and stocks the cardiac testing department.

Functions in Cardiac and/or Pulmonary Rehabilitation

• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
• Completes intake assessment, re-assessment, and discharge paperwork in a timely manner.
• Attends case review meetings with physicians and coordinates patient care accordingly.
• Works with insurance companies to obtain prior authorizations and extensions as needed.
• Familiarizes patients with evaluations, discusses RPE, SOB, and pain scales, and obtains relevant patient information.
• Teaches patients or attaches electrodes and connects leads to monitoring equipment.
• Monitors equipment during exercise, makes adjustments, and informs appropriate departments of abnormalities.
• Presents "Exercise" education forums on intensity, duration, and frequency of exercise.
• Supervises Phase III Cardiac rehabilitation patients, evaluating changes in heart rate, BP, BS, EKG, weight, and medication.
• Performs Phase II floor responsibilities, including setting equipment, evaluating RPE, SOB, pain, HR, and adjusting exercise prescriptions.
• Monitors Phase II classes, evaluates rhythms, HR, THZ, weight, blood glucose, and documents patient performance.
• Opens and closes the exercise room, performs daily defibrillator and glucometer checks, and participates in team huddles.
• Prepares and gives exercise prescriptions, evaluates THZ, and assigns home exercise parameters.
• Supervises exercise evaluations and provides exercise prescriptions for cardiologist approval.
• Completes exercise portions of Individualized Treatment Plans (ITP) for physician review.
• Performs EKGs when patient condition warrants and maintains proficiency with glucose meters.
• Documents patient status, goals, and performance in charts and computers.
• Performs clerical functions such as answering phones, completing charges, and scheduling cases.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science or a related field required.
• Previous 1 year experience in exercise testing of low and high-risk patients preferred.
• Satisfactory completion of Basic EKG and Advanced EKG courses within 12 months of hire.
• BLS certification required upon hire or within the first 90 days of employment.
• ACLS certification required within 6 months of hire.
• Certified by the American College of Sports Medicine preferred.

Work Environment

The employee regularly works in a clean, well-lighted, and temperature-controlled environment. The employee is occasionally exposed to cutting instruments, hazardous conditions, infectious disease from blood/airborne pathogens, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually mild.

Physical Demands

The employee is required to regularly talk and hear, stand and walk, and use hands to perform fine motor skills. Occasionally required to stoop, crouch, or kneel, lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and move quickly to gather equipment and medication for emergency situations. Specific vision abilities include close vision, color vision, depth perception, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Interpersonal Requirements

Regularly works with patients where social sensitivity and effective communication are required. Must work and communicate well with managers, employees, physicians, and customers. Must handle conflict assertively, resolve issues diplomatically, and participate in problem-solving. Must treat everyone professionally.

Schedule

10-hour day shift, part-time (10 scheduled weekly hours).