GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide direct care, counseling, and education to patients in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program following American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) standards and criteria.

• Assess patients’ functional capacity, including interpretation of stress test reports, administration of 6 Minute Walk tests and physical assessments, and review of patient’s self-assessment data.

• Develop appropriate, safe exercise prescriptions using the AACVPR standards and criteria including mode, frequency, intensity, duration progression, and target heart rate ranges.

• Maintain and monitor emergency equipment as outlined in BWH Cardiac Rehabilitation policies.

• Consult with patient care team to ensure appropriate plan of care and follow-up.

• Supervise exercise sessions including use of LSI Monitoring system for telemetry monitoring and exercise documentation.

• Document pertinent patient care findings, progress, and plans in the electronic medical record as appropriate.

• Set priorities for appropriate and efficient management of patient care that reflects cost-effective management of time, available human resources, supplies and equipment.

• Incorporates the concepts of health maintenance, prevention, and promotion into daily practice through patient education and counseling.

• Demonstrates awareness of community resources and assists staff, patients, and families to effectively utilize them.

• Facilitates Cardiac Rehabilitation sessions including exercise, education and stress reduction.

• Monitors patients’ clinical presentation before, during and after the class, including but not limited to symptom assessment and management, telemetry interpretation, blood pressure assessments, blood glucose testing and management.

• Provide participant oversight by assuring goals are both attainable and prescribing a plan to help patients meet those goals.

• Communicates effectively with supervising physician as well as patient’s own primary care provider and cardiologist.

• Assists in providing appropriate care for patients who develop chest pain, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, hypotension, hypertension, and dysrhythmias consistent with BWH polices and AACVPR guidelines.

• Participate in weekly team meetings and complete 30-day Individualized Treatment Plan (ITP) Reviews on assigned patients.

• Evaluate outcomes of patients’ care and makes necessary revisions in the patients’ Individualized Treatment Plans (ITP)

• Seek and provide consultative services as required.

• Participate in departmental and organization quality improvement program.

• Utilize quality improvement data and research findings to enhance patient care.

• Participate in weekly clinical team meetings including periodic individualized treatment plan review under the direction of the program manager.

• Demonstrate appropriate collaborative and consultative relationships with other clinicians within the Cardiac Rehabilitation program, as well as providers throughout the institution and the community.

• Participate in departmental and organization continuing education and in-service programs.

• Complete annual Cardiac Rehabilitation Competency Assessments.

• Identify self-learning needs and update clinical knowledge and skills through formal and informal education and review of current literature.

• Educate lay and/or professional groups through lectures, papers, publications, and educational materials.

• Serves as a community and hospital resource utilizing knowledge to facilitate excellent wellness/preventive programming

• Minimum experience: Prior experience in cardiac rehabilitation and or performing cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

• Bachelor of Science degree required. Master educational level preferred.

• Completion of BLS and ACLS certification within 3 months preferred; within 6 months required.

• Certification/Licensure: Board-Certified Exercise Physiologist (EPC) by the American Society of Exercise Physiologists preferred.

SKILLS/ ABILITIES/ COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

• Ability to deal with frequent stress due to critical issues relating to patient care, changing organizational climate and personnel issues.

• Knowledgeable about current issues in delivery of ambulatory care such as managed care and capitation.

• Familiarity with computerized scheduling, medical records, and financial systems.

• Ability to be self-directive and demonstrate initiative in addressing responsibilities of position.

• Ability to utilize appropriate problem solving and conflict resolution skills.

• Working knowledge of principles of adult learning and ability to educate patients in a group setting.