PTO: up to 30 days annually new hires including hospital holidays
Retirement: A hospital funded pension plus a 403(b) with company match
Commuting: 50% discount on MBTA passes
GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT:
Under medical supervision, the Clinical Exercise Physiologist is primarily responsible for performing exercise cardiac stress tests in a clinically independent manner.
Responsibilities include: performing both standard exercise stress tests, and exercise, pharmacological within the larger context of various imaging protocols (Nuclear Medicine SPECT and PET/CT and MRI), interpreting and reporting ECG and other clinical data, assisting with education and training of fellows, residents, technicians, student interns, assisting in ongoing research projects, and assisting in administrative duties as needed.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provides direct patient care to patients from late childhood to geriatric. Clinically assess patients prior to testing, decide appropriate procedures to follow, protocols to use, and special precautions if needed. Perform independent and direct supervision of stress testing and if applicable, the technologist assigned to the test (Nuclear Medicine Technologist or MRI Technologist...) and clinical provider.
Conducts independent exercise stress testing and performs the following:
Preparation of patient and equipment prior to testing; including baseline ECG and hemodynamic measurement/interpretation.
Provide constant ECG, hemodynamic and equipment monitoring during testing as per established protocols and policies.
Determine appropriate endpoints for test termination; including the ability to recognize clinically unstable and/or hazardous conditions and initiate emergency medical response when necessary (CPR, Code Blue...).
Carefully monitor the patient during post-stress conditions to determine appropriate completion of the recovery period thus facilitating the safe departure of the patient from the testing area.
Communicate effectively with covering physicians concerning any medically hazardous and/or clinically unstable conditions.
Completes the exercise testing data forms and collates the exercise test results into a package of information in preparation for the final report, includes electronic documentation of test data/details, to be approved by the laboratory director or his designate.
Performs regular inspection of all equipment, in accordance with departmental and hospital policies for operation and safety. Ensures proper function and maintenance before lab opens in the morning. Documents inspection and collates information. Follows up with Biomedical Engineering and equipment vendors when necessary.
Replenishes station supplies and linen. Lends input as to maintaining supply inventory.
Assists in the development and updating of policy and procedure manuals, program development, as well as maintaining emergency preparedness through departmental in-services and bi-annual recertification.
Assists in orienting and training new clinical exercise physiologists in department policies and protocols.
Assists in the administration and supervision of student internships, residents, and fellows in training.
Assists with evaluating and maintaining the quality and quantity of patient care services in relation to:
quality management program
interviewing of prospective employees
Maintains professional knowledge base by professional organization membership and regular attendance at in-service programs, workshops etc.
Participates in clinical research and teaching/educational activities as deemed appropriate.
The primary responsibility of the exercise physiologist will be to conduct stress tests in an independent manner. However, he/she will also participate in other duties as needed.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master of Science in exercise physiology required or equivalent experience.
- Testing experience in clinical setting required; three years preferred.
SKILLS/ ABILITIES/ COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:
1. Must possess sound medical knowledge, clinical judgment, and analytical abilities necessary for the screening, conduct, and interpretation of stress tests.
2. Demonstrate an extensive and advanced understanding of both normal and pathological cardiopulmonary physiology, exercise metabolism, and abnormal ECG presentations, both at rest and during exercise and pharmacologic stress.
3. Ability to recognize clinical instability during all phases of testing: clinically significant arrhythmia's, evidence of severe ischemia, changes in blood pressure, symptoms, and patient appearance.
4. Ability to initiate management of complications during testing including rhythm disturbances, hypo/hypertension, chest discomfort, and evidence of severe persistent ischemia, etc.
5. Demonstrate competence in responding with the appropriate emergency procedures to situations in the clinical setting that may arise prior to, during, or after exercise.
6. Knowledge of use of standard exercise testing equipment including treadmill, leg and arm ergometers, electrocardiographic monitoring equipment, and metabolic carts. First hand knowledge preferred, use of specific equipment may be learned on job.
7. Work requires the ability to organize and execute an efficient work plan in a large volume, fast turnover team oriented service frequently requiring immediate and rapid decision-making (90% of day).
8. Work requires at least 3 to 6 months of orientation to acquire necessary familiarity with department and hospital policies and procedures and to decide on appropriateness of employee suitability for the position.
9. Possesses refined interpersonal skills in order to effectively communicate, facilitate, and negotiate with patients, staff, physicians and other hospital personnel.
10. Ability to concentrate on details of patient care and respond to questions from patients, doctors, colleagues and other health care providers, which may result in mental stress (80% of day).
11. Ability to effectively manage people of all ages.
12. Work requires a high level of knowledge and ability to teach and train student interns and others in the technical aspects of the job, and to departmental/hospital policies and procedures.
13. Ability to stand and walk (80% of day); lift, position, transport patients and equipment for exercise testing (25% of day).
WORKING CONDITIONS:
1. Works with patient care environments where there are some exposures to communicable disease (up to 25% of work time) and unpleasant odors (up to 10% of work time).
2. Work requires lifting, transporting and positioning of patients and/or equipment (up to 25% of work time), which could result in musculoskeletal strain or injury.
3. Work requires adjustment of equipment (up to 10% of work time), which could result in minor cuts to fingers and hands.
4. Radioactive materials are used for the testing, but the handling of those materials will be done by qualified nuclear technologists. There may be some exposure to low level (harmless), levels of radiation.
5. Work requires flexibility in scheduling to accommodate changes/variations in unit volume needs.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
Supervision of the technicians, students and support staff that is assisting with the conduct of the exercise and pharmacological testing.
Physical requirements:
Lift/Carrry up to 25 lbs
Push/Pull up to 50 lbs
The above is intended to describe the general contents and requirements of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to construe as an
exhaustive statement of all duties, responsibilities or skills of personnel so classified.
EEO Statement
Massachusetts General Hospital is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
