Senior Clinical Exercise Physiologist

POSITION SUMMARY:

• Under supervision of the Operations Manager and according to established policies and procedures,
• Provides direct patient assessment and management in the BMC Stress Testing Laboratories and/or Cardiac Rehabilitation & Prevention Program.

Position: Exercise Physiology Technician

Department: Stress Techs

Schedule: 40 Hours (Days)

Job Description

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

Stress Testing Management

Knowledge of ACSM stress testing guidelines

Evaluates patients for appropriateness of testing, patient safety, and correct type of test and protocol

Effectively communicates pertinent information with supervising physicians, nurses, sonographers and other physiologists and ensures communication with referring physicians as needed.

Evaluates and performs stress testing of outpatients and inpatients; including, exercise tolerance tests, stress echocardiograms, dobutamine echocardiograms, metabolic stress tests, exercise nuclear stress tests, pharmacological nuclear stress tests.

Performs Pediatric stress testing. Exhibits knowledge of testing protocols and proper equipment usage for pediatric patients.

Provides patient information, explains testing methods and procedures, and obtains patient consent

Selects appropriate testing protocol according to patient clinical presentation

Ensures recordings are of the best quality for diagnosis according to departmental practices and procedures.

Performs ongoing clinical assessment throughout the test by monitoring cardiovascular and pulmonary parameters including symptoms, appearance, heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram

Determines test duration and test termination as per BMC Stress Testing Lab Policy and ACSM guidelines

Calculates and records all necessary parameters, and provides initial interpretation of electrocardiographic tracings for diagnostic purposes

Creates the electronic record of exam, documentation of pertinent exam information, and data entry for charge capture

Evaluates and communicates findings to medical personnel as required, following departmental practices and procedures

Responds to medical emergencies for Stress Testing Labs and BMC Non Invasive Cardiovascular Laboratories, and assists-physicians according to BMC Non-Invasive Lab policy.

Provides education and instruction to hospital personnel and students in methods and theories of stress testing

Inserts peripheral intravenous lines as needed according to BMC Non Invasive Lab Policy

Nuclear Stress Testing (specific additional duties to those as outlined above)

Coordinates patient-specific imaging protocol with physician staff (Cardiology and/or Radiology)

Maintain Radiation safety standards per BMC Radiation policy and procedure guidelines

Enters basic pre-test patient data and imaging data into Apollo (medical history, radiopharmaceutical doses and administration time, etc.)

Cardiac Rehabilitation, PAD Rehab, & Prevention Program Management

Provides patient orientation to the Rehab Programs

Reviews medical evaluation and implements treatment plan as developed by the Program Medical Director

Develops specific exercise training program and training goals for each individual patient with reference to underlying medical conditions and risks of exercise

Performs ongoing clinical assessment throughout sessions by monitoring all relevant cardiovascular parameters

Coordination & scheduling of all adjunctive rehab services including behavioral medicine, social work, nutrition, and tobacco treatment

Evaluates and manages periodic Individualized Treatment Plans to achieve comprehensive risk reduction goals, interventions, outcomes, and effectiveness

Utilizes behavior modification techniques to implement change: goal setting, support, feedback, and patient empowerment

Educates patients on cardiovascular/pulmonary topics including (but not limited to): Anatomy & Physiology, Cardiopulmonary Risk Factors, Stress Management, Exercise, and Medications.

Assists in the scheduling of ancillary patient needs: interpreters, transportation, parking

Completes and maintains clinical documentation of daily sessions, treatment plans, and patient discharge information, using available documentation programs.

Analyzes cardiac rehab program outcomes for group data as a foundation for quality improvement

Collaborates and communicates with referring providers, including the provision of a written discharge summary

Documents and reports exercise sessions, manages appointment scheduling, and initiates and ensures charge capture processes

Maintains Cardiac Rehab Program standards to meet American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) accreditation requirements

Develops individual student programs including, supervision, instruction, and training all student interns

Responds to medical emergencies for Stress Testing Laboratories and BMC Non Invasive Cardiovascular Laboratories, and assists-physicians according to BMC Non-Invasive Lab policy.

Maintain AACVPR staff competency requirements

Pulmonary Function Testing

Performs metabolic testing with indirect calorimetry

Perform basic PFT testing

Other Duties

Maintains current knowledge in exercise testing, indirect calorimetry and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation through regular study of emerging literature, individual instruction by supervising staff, and participation in conferences at the department, local and national level

Maintains a working knowledge of cardiovascular medications

Has a working knowledge of 12-lead EKGs and rhythm strip interpretation

Communicates/collaborates with members of multidisciplinary team (nursing, physicians, sonographers, local health centers, dieticians, behavioral medicine, respiratory therapists)

Maintains necessary records and files according to departmental practices and procedures.

Orders equipment and supplies as needed.

Actively participates in quality improvement initiatives in the Non-Invasive Cardiac Laboratories and Respiratory Department

Demonstrates an ability to manage several concurrent tasks

Work in flexible, team environment

Maintains Boston Medical Center Behavioral Standards

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to age groups of adult and geriatric patients regularly served.

Utilizes BMC Values as the basis for decision making and to facilitate the department and hospital’s mission.

Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.

Performs other [additional and related] duties as needed.

Equipment Management

Ensures that all equipment is in working condition before each test, and troubleshoots all equipment needs

Manages all technical components of equipment including use of exercise stress test systems, treadmills & bicycles, metabolic cart, vital sign monitors, mobile language interpretation devices

Monitors Daily Quality Control including: glucometer, electronic refrigerator indicators, and defibrillator

Maintains equipment and mobilizes service personnel as needed and/or informs chief physiologist for continued follow up and management

Must adhere to all of BMC’s RESPECT behavioral standards.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

Job Requirements

EDUCATION:

• •Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology required
• •Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology Preferred

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS