Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Specialist PRN

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.

Location: Intermountain Health Layton Hospital, Intermountain Health Logan Regional Hospital; Work City: Layton; Work State: Utah.

Responsibilities

• Comprehensive patient assessment, including medical history review, vital sign monitoring, ECG interpretation, and functional capacity testing.
• As part of a multidisciplinary team, provide education on medication compliance, stress management, symptom recognition, and healthy lifestyle practices.
• 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.
• Demonstrate foundational knowledge pertaining to the design, evaluation, and standards of exercise programs for cardiac and/or pulmonary rehab patients.
• Understand all departmental policies, protocols, and procedures.
• Obtain medical history through patient interview and medical record review; review medications with patients; assess symptoms and vital signs; measure heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose; interpret ECGs at rest and during exercise.
• Assign and instruct appropriate exercise levels (METs) and/or modalities based on patient age, health status, physical/mental limitations, and physician‑prescribed exercise prescription.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of testing procedures (e.g., six‑minute walk test, bike test, arm ergometer test) and materials to perform valid functional capacity testing.
• Direct, coordinate, and provide expertise to staff, patients, and families for disease‑specific exercise, education, and lifestyle management interventions (nutrition, blood pressure management, medication compliance, stress management, symptom recognition, smoking cessation, lipid management, risk factor modification, independent exercise).
• Provide ongoing education to patients on vital sign monitoring (in class and at home), prescription/OTC medications, coronary artery disease risk factors, exercise modification for temperature extremes, stress reduction techniques, recognition of angina/heart attack symptoms, and appropriate workload adjustments.
• Provide inpatient mobility, activities of daily living, and education per delegation by therapists or floor RN; monitor vital signs and physiological responses to activity.
• Obtain and record patient vital signs (BP, HR, O₂ saturation) as assigned; note changes in physical, mental, and emotional status and respond appropriately by addressing immediate needs, notifying/involving other staff, and following up with the patient's physician via telephone or symptom report.
• Complete individualized treatment plans for cardiac and/or pulmonary rehab patients; complete daily progress notes and discharge documentation per departmental standards.
• Accurately document productivity information and maintain working knowledge of insurance requirements.
• Participate in quality and patient safety initiatives; identify areas for process improvement and potential safety hazards; take appropriate actions.
• Assist in training new caregivers and students; perform other duties as 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 (use of rehab equipment, telemetry systems, clinical tools)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a 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 complete 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 to see and read information, labels, assess patient needs, operate monitors, identify equipment and supplies.
• Frequent interactions requiring verbal communication and ability to hear/understand spoken information, alarms, needs, and issues quickly and accurately, especially during emergencies.
• Manual dexterity to manipulate complex and delicate equipment with precision; frequent computer use and typing for documentation, information access, medication preparation, etc.
• Ability to lift and utilize a full range of movements to transfer patients; bend to retrieve, lift, and carry supplies and equipment (including heavy items).
• Need to walk and assist with transporting/ambulating patients and obtaining/distributing supplies and equipment (including pushing/pulling gurneys and portable equipment, including heavy items).
• Often required to navigate crowded, busy rooms with equipment and power cords on the floor.
• May be expected to stand in a stationary position for extended periods.

Benefits

We provide a generous benefits package covering a wide range of wellness programs to foster a sustainable culture of wellness that encompasses living healthy, happy, secure, connected, and engaged.

Pay

The hourly range for this position is $29.43 – $45.39; actual rate depends on experience.