Exercise Specialist

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research, and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. We seek staff committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality, and trust that are integral to our mission.

The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked for academic research, quality standards, and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in comprehensive services, medical advancement, and patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Assesses the extent of patient abilities and limitations by reviewing medical records and physician's notes.
• Administers pre-exercise testing interview and test preparation.
• Uses testing equipment, protocol selection, indications, contraindications, and termination criteria for graded exercise testing.
• Records, analyzes, and interprets results of tests and prepares appropriate exercise prescriptions.
• Administers therapeutic exercises and other techniques designed to improve functional capacity, exercise tolerance, endurance, muscle strength, and coordination for rehabilitating patient populations.
• Evaluates patient hemodynamic, electrocardiographic, and symptomatic response to exercise, assessing appropriateness of responses as they relate to exercise intensity and endurance.
• In conjunction with multi-disciplinary team members, designs, implements, supervises, and evaluates outcomes for exercise services.
• Assists in developing and providing educational materials and programs for staff and patients.
• Collaborates with the department manager and medical staff in data collection, statistical analysis, development, and implementation of research projects.
• Assists in establishing and maintaining referral patterns within the organization and with other Salt Lake and regional hospitals.
• Assists in coordinating daily operations of the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program and planning for long-term growth.
• Assists in arranging for patient follow-up and maintains correspondence with patients and referring physicians during rehabilitation and after discharge.
• May assist in program development for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, employee fitness and health, facility utilization, etc.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology, Exercise and Sports Science, or a related field, or equivalency.
• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system (to be obtained within 30 days of hire).
• Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated potential ability to perform the essential functions as outlined above.
• Ability to provide care to the population served.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development, and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.
• Ability to interpret basic ECG rhythm.
• Ability to cooperate with other healthcare professionals.
• Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification as an Exercise Specialist.
• One year of rehabilitation and exercise testing experience.
• ACLS certification may be required by some departments.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

This position involves intermediate working conditions in a healthcare setting that may exert up to 50 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving patients or objects, such as medical equipment, while providing patient care. Workers in this position may be exposed to infectious diseases and may be required to function around prisoners or behavioral health patients.

• Carrying, climbing, color determination, crawling, far vision, lifting, listening, manual dexterity, near vision, pulling and/or pushing, reaching, sitting, speaking, standing, stooping and crouching, tasting or smelling, walking.