Exercise Physiologist

Be a part of a world-class academic healthcare system at UChicago Medicine as an Exercise Physiologist in our Cardiac Rehabilitation department.

As an Exercise Physiologist you will be responsible for the design and implementation of comprehensive programs for patients referred to cardiac/ pulmonary rehabilitation. Duties include supervising patient exercise sessions to ensure safe and effective treatments as well as educating patients regarding proper exercise techniques and health fitness topics to facilitate a decrease in participants’ cardiac risk factors, an increase in independence with skills for management of disease and associated symptoms, and an increase in functional capacity.

Essential Job Functions:

• Performs patient evaluations; demonstrates ability to interpret MD referrals. Identifies rehab and stress testing precautions and contraindications. Obtains all pertinent information from patient chart prior to initial evaluation, including significant past medical history, present medical surgical interventions. Demonstrates technical skill and accuracy in performing basic evaluation procedures. Demonstrate ability to recognize abnormal physiological or psychological signs and takes appropriate action• Duties include scheduling appointments, assessing risk factors for heart disease, performing sub maximal exercise test, data entry and counseling participants regarding health fitness issues
• Demonstrates knowledge and principles of exercise prescription and clinical exercise testing by safely administering cardiopulmonary exercise tests and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation treatment sessions.
• Duties include assessing risk factors for cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, data entry and counseling participants regarding health fitness issues.
• Maintains education plans according to AACVPR and ACSM guidelines and in cooperation with departmental and medical leadership.
• Maintain cardiac or pulmonary rehab records on each patient in the programs. Includes ability to create individual treatment plans (ITPs), write progress reports and discharge summaries.  Also includes timely completion of outcome measures to assess program effectiveness.
• Complies with standards and regulations of regulatory and accrediting agencies such as AACVPR, ACSM, and The Joint Commission. Demonstrates awareness and compliance with hospital policies and procedures.
• Completes all L1 and annual competencies
• Collaborates with Supervisor, Director and Program Coordinator on program and site/system initiatives

Qualifications:

• B.S in Exercise Science/Physiology or related field.
• Applicants should possess a knowledge of exercise physiology, nutrition, risk factor modification strategies, counseling techniques and use of educational programs and technologies as applied to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services.
• EKG interpretation skills
• Basic computer skills to allow access to operations and patient monitoring are necessary.
• Physical ability to demonstrate exercise techniques required
• Requires appropriate interpersonal skills to enable positive interactions with patients/families, the multidisciplinary team and external contacts.
• BLS
• ACLS within 6 months of hire

Preferred Qulifications:

• Master’s preferred with experience or training equivalent to that specified for an Exercise Specialist by the American College of Sports Medicine.
• One year experience in exercise programming, supervision and education of cardiopulmonary rehab patients desirable.

Position Details:

• Job Type/FTE: Full-Time
• Shift: Days
• Unit/Department: Cardiac Rehabilitation - Hyde Park
• Work Location: Hyde Park
• CBA Code: Non-Union