Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values and Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic direction of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

The Exercise Physiologist works without general discipline supervision, evaluates patients’ responses to exercise and provides and implements exercise prescriptions based on the results of patient’s exercise stress tests or metabolic tests and clinical status.  Provides education to patients and their families and other health care professionals and participates in research activities as required. As a member of the Children's Heart Centre team, consults with and maintains ongoing communication with all team members and the community at large, and participates in program service and business planning.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1.    Performs cardiopulmonary exercise testing involving the use of the metabolic cart, treadmill, cycle ergometers or six-minute walk test. Ensures patient safety during exercise testing, responds to complications and modifies exercise for cardiopulmonary limitations. In the event of adverse symptoms, discontinues the test immediately.

2.    Selects the appropriate testing protocol based on the data required and patient history. Explains the test and possible side effects to the patient and his/her parent(s).

3.    Assesses patient by means such as interpretation and evaluation of clinical stress and metabolic test data and cardiac investigations e.g. MIBI, ECHO etc. Reviews patient history including medications with the physicians to determine potential risks with testing.

4.    Provides interpretation/application of results of exercise stress testing for the patient’s physician, the patient and their family, and other health care professionals.  

5.    Provides exercise prescription such as aerobic and strength exercises and establishes progression of exercise training based on initial and on-going patient assessment.

6.    Designs, conducts and supervises exercise sessions such as interval training and graduated return to exercise programs that meet the goals of the individual given the limitations of their cardiopulmonary status. Consults with cardiologist as required.

7.    Educates patients and their families by developing and providing patient education materials.

8.    Provides ongoing support for risk factor management by ensuring that an individual’s prescribed exercise program considers and addresses all risk factors.  

9.    Ensures that exercise equipment is maintained through good practices and in cooperation with biomedical engineering and external vendors; makes recommendations to the program for replacement or purchase of new equipment and is directly involved in the implementation of new testing equipment.

10.    Maintains effective communication with members of the patient care team through communication with RNs, cardiologists, occupational therapist, etc. or through communication with various specialists or family doctors as required.  Participates in information sharing through rounds. Provides in-services and meets with the various departments that are running the tests such as ECG or Respiratory Therapy to ensure that quality testing is being performed.

11.    Participates in multidisciplinary meetings regarding planning and implementation of patient care, provides input on patient care pathways, clinic flow and opportunities for improved efficiency.

12.    Maintains statistical data for facility and government reporting including the number of patients seen and time.

13.    Maintains and updates knowledge of clinical practice by methods such as reviewing relevant literature, consulting with other clinic and interdisciplinary staff, evaluating clinical practice and participating in professional development and revision of standards to improve care through new practices.

14.    Participates in clinical research in collaboration with other team members. Participates in the research design and data collection for research studies within Children’s Heart Centre and supervises participants to ensure patient safety and adherence to research protocol.

15.    Performs other related duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience

•    Bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology or a related health science plus two (2) years of recent related pediatric experience as a clinical exercise physiologist in a tertiary care cardiac centre, including practical clinical experience with metabolic/VO2 testing and interpretation or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
•    Eligible for certification with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as an exercise specialist and eligible for registration with the Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation (CACR).
•    CPR Training – Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) – Level I.

Skills and Abilities

•    Knowledge of 12 lead ECG interpretation, arrhythmia interpretation.
•    Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with patients, families, team members and the community.
•    Ability to work independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
•    Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
•    Ability to organize and prioritize work.
•    Ability to teach.
•    Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.