Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Specialist

About the role

The Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab Specialist plays a vital role in helping patients return to their baseline health or achieve improved functional capacity following a cardiac or pulmonary event. This position focuses on designing, implementing, and evaluating individualized exercise and lifestyle management programs that promote recovery, reduce risk factors, and enhance overall quality of life.

Responsibilities

• Comprehensive patient assessment, including medical history review, vital sign monitoring, ECG interpretation, and functional capacity testing.
• Provide education on medication compliance, stress management, symptom recognition, and healthy lifestyle practices as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Develop and update treatment plans; ensure accurate documentation; support inpatient mobility; contribute to patient safety and quality improvement initiatives.
• Mentor new staff and foster continuous improvement in departmental protocols and patient satisfaction.

Essential Functions

• Demonstrate foundational knowledge pertaining to the design, evaluation and standards of exercise programs for Cardiac and/or Pulmonary Rehab patients.
• Develop understanding of all departmental policies, protocols and procedures.
• Trained to obtain a medical history through patient interview and review of the medical record; review medications with patients; assess symptoms and vital signs; measure heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose, and interpret ECGs during rest and exercise.
• Assign and instruct appropriate exercise levels (METs) and/or modalities with respect to the patients' age, health status, physical and/or mental limitations, and capacity to perform within the exercise prescription set forth by the patient's physician.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of appropriate testing procedures (i.e.: Six-minute walk test, bike test, arm ergometer test, etc.) and materials in order to perform valid functional capacity testing.
• Function as an essential member of a multidisciplinary team by directing, coordinating and providing special expertise to staff, patient and families including but not limited to day to day planning and conduction of disease specific exercise, education and lifestyle management intervention, including but not limited to nutrition, blood pressure management, medication compliance, stress management, symptom recognition, smoking cessation, lipid management, risk factor modification and independent exercise.
• Provide immediate and ongoing education/information to patient/participants regarding monitoring of their vital signs in class and at home, prescription and OTC medications, coronary artery disease risk factors, modification of exercise with regards to temperature extremes, stress reduction techniques, recognition of angina and heart attack symptoms, and appropriate increases/changes in workloads.
• Provide inpatient mobility, activities of daily living and education following a developed plan of care per delegation by therapists or floor RN. Monitor vital signs and physiological responses to activity.
• Obtain and record patient vital signs, BP, HR, O2 sats as assigned. Note changes in the patients/participants physical, mental, and emotional status and respond in appropriate manner by addressing patients' immediate needs, notification and involvement of other staff, and subsequent follow-up with patient's physician via telephone and/or Symptom Report.
• Complete individualized treatment plans for cardiac and/or pulmonary rehab patients. Complete daily, progress notes and discharge documentation according to departmental standards. Accurately document productivity information and have a working knowledge of insurance requirements.
• Participate in quality and patient safety initiatives. Identify potential areas for improvement including processes that could be streamlined or revised to improve patient satisfaction. Identify potential safety hazards that may create problems for patients and/or staff and take appropriate actions.
• Assist in training new caregivers and students, and perform other duties assigned.

Skills

• Clinical assessment and monitoring
• EKG interpretation
• Symptom recognition
• Functional capacity testing
• Exercise programming
• Patient education and coaching
• Communication
• Patient Care
• Documentation
• Care coordination
• Technical proficiency to include use of rehab equipment, telemetry systems, and clinical tools

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field (Exercise Physiology, Exercise Science, Kinesiology)
• Current Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS-HCP)
• Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) / (PALS for pediatrics) certification as required by facility
• Successfully completes a formal EKG interpretation and arrhythmia detection course within 6 months of hire

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) year of cardiac and/or pulmonary rehab experience

Physical Requirements

• Ongoing need for employees to see and read information, labels, assess patient needs, operate monitors, identify equipment and supplies.
• Frequent interactions with patient care providers, patients, and visitors that require employee to verbally communicate as well as hear and understand spoken information, alarms, needs, and issues quickly and accurately, particularly during emergency situations.
• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to manipulate complex and delicate equipment with precision and accuracy. This includes frequent computer use and typing for documenting patient care, accessing needed information, medication preparation, etc.
• Expected to lift and utilize a full range of movements to transfer patients. Will also bend to retrieve, lift, and carry supplies and equipment. Typically includes items of varying weights, up to and including heavy items.
• Need to walk and assist with transporting/ambulating patients and obtaining and distributing supplies and equipment. This includes pushing/pulling gurneys and portable equipment, including heavy items.
• Often required to navigate crowded and busy rooms (full of equipment, power cords on the floor, etc.)
• May be expected to stand in a stationary position for an extended period of time.

Pay

$29.43 - $45.39

Schedule

Scheduled Weekly Hours 20

Benefits

We care about your well-being – mind, body, and spirit – which is why we provide our caregivers a generous benefits package that covers a wide range of programs to foster a sustainable culture of wellness that encompasses living healthy, happy, secure, connected, and engaged. Learn More About Our Comprehensive Benefits Package Here.