Clinical Exercise Physiologist

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The UNC Hospitals Cardiac Rehab Program is a well-established, AACVPR-certified program located at the UNC Wellness Center in beautiful Meadowmont Village, Chapel Hill, NC . This setting offers a unique and uplifting environment where patients engage in rehabilitation within a bright, welcoming Clinical Fitness Area-an ideal setting to promote wellness!

We are seeking a Clinical Exercise Physiologist to join our collaborative, multidisciplinary team. This role provides clinical care and monitors patients participating in our cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program, working closely with other healthcare professionals to support optimal patient outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Monitoring patients during rehab sessions
• Conducting initial assessments
• Developing, implementing, and updating exercise prescriptions
• Conducting Graded Exercise Tests and Six-Minute Walk Tests
• Reporting patient issues to the supervising physician
• oProviding patient education, counseling and ongoing support

Preferred qualifications for our role include:

• Master's degree in clinical Exercise Physiology
• 3-5 years of experience in cardiac and/or pulmonary rehabilitation

Summary:

The Clinical Exercise Physiologist works closely with the multidisciplinary healthcare team to provide evidence-based exercise therapy that is integrated and compatible with the patient-focused medical goals. Primary responsibilities include development and implementation of the exercise prescription through initial patient assessment, exercise testing, monitoring, and evaluation of the patient's progress. The Clinical Exercise Physiologist uses evidence-based practice, protocols, and guidelines to determine exercise intervention. As part of the multidisciplinary team, the
Clinical Exercise Physiologist is directly involved in patient care, patient education, program development, and quality performance improvement.


Responsibilities:

1. Assesses exercise therapy needs using standardized practice and critical thinking. Conducts exercise testing where applicable. Recognizes potential medical problems in all clinical situations and works in collaboration with the healthcare team to resolve these issues. Recognizes unsafe exercise situations and intervenes to ensure patient safety. Monitors response to exercise such as heart rate and rhythm, ratings of perceived exertion, blood pressures, blood glucoses, and O2 Sats. Attends and participates in patient care conferences.
2. Develops exercise prescriptions according to age, disease, medical history, comorbidities, and individual needs for patients. Implements, monitors, and modifies exercise prescriptions and individual treatment plans. Participates in reassessments and discharge planning process. Demonstrates clinical and age-specific competency as evidenced by clinical competency tools, forms, chart audits, tests, observation, etc.
3. Provides initial orientation to exercise program, educating patient on untoward signs and symptoms to recognize and report, safe use of exercise equipment, and program processes. Provides patient education on a variety of topics, such as disease management, safe exercise principles, risk factor modification, medication compliance, stress management, and behavior modification.
4. Documents all aspects of exercise therapy in the medical record. Demonstrates compliance with regulatory agency standards as evidenced by chart audits and organizational / regulatory agency surveys. Communicates effectively with physicians, medical director, other providers, and co-workers. Provides patient education using established behavioral change techniques. Communicates with patients in a clear and effective manner.
5. Assists in achieving compliance with the Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP), American Association for Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) or other accrediting agency standards to continuously improve the safety and quality of care to the public and to the organization's performance improvement. Performs business functions, such as management of resources in a cost-effective manner, and participates in compliance and quality performance improvement efforts to ensure that clinical care is safe and effective.
6. Attends and participates in staff meetings, and continuing education opportunities. Participates in quality improvement initiatives and cross training. Maintains professional competency and skills required for professional practice. Act as a resource for community-based exercise programs.
7. Participates in the training of clinical exercise physiology students and orienting new staff members as directed by supervisor.

Other Information

Other information:
Education Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree at a US regionally accredited university in Exercise Physiology, Exercise Science, Kinesiology, or related field
• Master's degree in Exercise Physiology, Exercise Science, Kinesiology, or related field preferred Completion of a clinical internship preferred
Licensure/Certification Requirements:
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support preferred
• Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) required within twelve (12) months of hire* or licensed Physical Therapist
Professional Experience Requirements:
• One (1) year of experience working in a clinical exercise setting.
• No minimum clinical experience required with Master's degree
• *Note: Current teammates hired before Dec 15, 2019 are not required to hold CEP certification.
Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal form to patients, public, hospital and medical staff, and physicians. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of patients and their guests, community members, and others outside of the organization. Possess ability to time manage, complete tasks, and meet operational timelines. Ability to function independently on assignments. Demonstrate a passion for using skills and knowledge to help patients, guests and coworkers. Ability to efficiently, calmly, and tactfully deal with in-person interactions, telephone calls, email correspondence, and related patient and customer services issues. Working knowledge and skills of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Proficient keyboarding skills. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations by collecting data, establishing facts, and drawing valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Critical thinking to integrate facts, informed opinion, active listening, and observations. Ability to use good judgment and make decisions regarding patient care.

Job Details

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Medical Center

Organization Unit: Cardiac Rehabilitation


Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Salary Range: $23.24 - $33.41 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email View email address on click.appcast.io if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.