Clinical Exercise Physiologist

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 performing activities related to the safe fitness testing of patients and for providing exercise prescriptions pertaining to the patient's fitness assessment and body composition, while taking into consideration any barriers to physical activity due to any identified medical conditions. This includes communicating, implementing, monitoring, motivating, coaching, and managing of the physical activity intervention recommendations for the patient.

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

• Performs exercise testing of new patients.
• Interprets exercise testing results and designs exercise plans encompassing the physician recommendations, testing results, treatment plans, and patient goals.
• Teaches patients relevant exercises and guides them through progressive exercise programs. Makes modifications to meet the patient's current treatment status.
• Monitors patient's health and modifies their exercise plans as needed.
• Develops relationships with other departments and assists in conducting research by collecting data and coordinating participants as needed.
• May assist with the development of training workshops for outreach and education for healthcare providers and community-based fitness professionals for exercise interventions for those with chronic diseases, conditions and/or physical shortcomings.
• May guide patients on outdoor outings such as snow shoeing, fly fishing, hiking, cycling, rowing, or additional activities as determined by patient's needs.

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 make decisions quickly regarding patient care and treatment.

• Knowledge of treatment plans for patient's illness or physical shortcomings and the possible side effects caused by treatments.

• Ability to cooperate with other healthcare professionals.

• Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills.

Qualifications

Required

• Master's degree in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, or Kinesiology, 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

One of the following

• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
• Health and Fitness Specialist with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
• Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
• Clinical Exercise Specialist with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

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