Exercise Specialist

Overview

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. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

This position is responsible for designing, implementing, supervising, and evaluating exercise therapy given to rehabilitating patients and other apparently healthy populations in order to restore proper physical functioning, and facilitate patient independence.

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

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• 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 provide improved functional capacity, exercise tolerance, exercise endurance, muscle strength and endurance, and coordination to rehabilitating patient populations.
• Evaluates patient hemodynamic, electrocardiographic, and symptomatic response to exercise, and assesses 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 new and maintaining current referral patterns, both within the organization and with other Salt Lake and regional hospitals.
• Assists in coordinating the daily operations of the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program as well as planning for long-term growth.
• Assists in arranging for patient follow-up and maintains correspondence with patients and referring physicians during rehabilitation course and after discharge.
• May assist in program development for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, employee fitness and health, facility utilization, etc.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• 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 communications skills.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology, Exercise and Sports Science, or a related field, or equivalency.

Licenses Required

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Qualifications (Preferred)

Preferred

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

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• 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.

Physical Requirements

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