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Organization:
VCH Cardiac Rehabilitation
Job Summary:
The Exercise Physiologist supports the health and wellness of patients by assessing fitness levels, prescribing safe and effective exercise programs, and providing education to promote long-term health improvements. This role collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to develop and adjust individualized care plans, ensuring optimal patient outcomes through exercise interventions, risk factor management, and education.
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Exercise Physiologist – Cardiac Rehab (Outpatient)
Location: Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital – Outpatient Rehabilitation
Schedule:
About the Role
Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital is seeking an Exercise Physiologist to join our Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation program as part of the Vanderbilt Health system. This role supports adult cardiac patients recovering from open-heart surgery, STEMI, cardiac catheterization, stent placement, and an increasing population of LVAD and transplant-related patients connected to Vanderbilt’s advanced cardiovascular services.
This position is primarily focused on leading structured cardiac rehabilitation exercise classes, which make up approximately 90% of the role, with the remaining 10% dedicated to patient assessments and evaluations. Clinicians typically lead three to four classes per day, with up to six classes on Thursdays. Classes generally consist of 5–10 patients per session, with patient groupings scheduled based on convenience rather than acuity.
The Exercise Physiologist works closely with a registered nurse and the interdisciplinary rehab team to monitor patient response to exercise, ensure safety, support recovery goals, and deliver a consistent, high-quality outpatient experience. This role offers the opportunity to build strong patient relationships while working within a predictable schedule in a supportive clinical environment.
Key Responsibilities
Assess patients’ functional capacity and develop individualized exercise prescriptions based on physician orders, diagnostic testing, and patient goals
Lead and supervise group cardiac rehabilitation exercise sessions, ensuring patient safety and adherence to established protocols
Continuously monitor patient response during exercise, including telemetry, vital signs, oxygen saturation, and reported symptoms
Modify exercise intensity and progression based on patient tolerance, clinical presentation, and approved protocols
Provide education to patients and families related to exercise performance, lifestyle modification, and long-term cardiac health
Collaborate with registered nurses, physicians, and other members of the healthcare team to support continuity of care
Participate in reassessments, progress tracking, and discharge planning, including education on home exercise programs
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology, Exercise Science, or a related field
Certified Clinical Exercise Specialist (ACSM-CEP) – required
Minimum of one year of cardiac-related experience in an outpatient, acute care, or skilled nursing setting
Strong patient-facing communication skills and comfort leading group exercise sessions
Knowledge of cardiac anatomy, physiology, and exercise response in cardiac populations
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs
Familiarity with ScottCare cardiac rehabilitation documentation systems (VersaCare or Aermos)
Experience working with post–open heart, STEMI, stent, LVAD, or transplant-adjacent patient populations
Additional cardiac or clinical exercise certifications
This Role Is Perfect For
Clinicians who enjoy teaching, coaching, and motivating patients in a group setting
Exercise Physiologists seeking a stable outpatient schedule with no Friday hours
Professionals who value teamwork and close collaboration with nursing staff
Candidates who want to be part of a newly integrated Vanderbilt hospital while delivering high-impact cardiac care
Why Vanderbilt Health
At Vanderbilt Health, we believe caring for patients starts with caring for our people. Team members are eligible for comprehensive benefits beginning on day one, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plans, paid time off, and access to professional development resources.
As part of Vanderbilt Health, you’ll be supported by nationally recognized clinical standards, a mission-driven culture, and opportunities to grow within one of the country’s leading academic health systems.
Apply today to be part of Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital and help patients safely return to stronger, healthier lives through cardiac rehabilitation.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Assesses patients’ fitness levels and develops individualized exercise prescriptions based on physician orders, diagnostic testing, and patient goals.
Supervises group and individual exercise sessions, ensuring safety, adherence to exercise protocols, and achievement of patient-specific goals.
Monitors patient responses to exercise, including telemetry, oxygen saturation, and vital signs, and adjusts exercise plans accordingly.
Educates patients and families on exercise techniques, health maintenance, and lifestyle modifications, addressing topics such as nutrition, weight management, diabetes control, and tobacco cessation.
Collaborates with physicians, registered nurses, and other healthcare team members to optimize care plans and ensure continuity of care.
Responds to medical emergencies within the rehabilitation setting, implementing emergency care protocols as needed.
Participates in discharge planning, including reassessment, education on home exercise programs, and referrals to ancillary services.
Demonstrates expertise in cardiac anatomy, biomechanics, pathophysiology, and risk factor modification to tailor interventions for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation participants.
Maintains accurate documentation of patient assessments, exercise prescriptions, progress notes, and education provided.
Actively contributes to the development and delivery of outpatient education classes to maximize program utilization and patient outcomes.
TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
Our professional administrative functions include critical supporting roles in information technology and informatics, finance, administration, legal and community affairs, human resources, communications and marketing, development, facilities, and many more.
At our growing health system, we support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce. High-achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth, appreciation of benefits, and a sense of community and purpose.
Core Accountabilities:
Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.
Core Capabilities :
Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.
Position Qualifications:
Responsibilities:
Certifications:
Certified Clinical Exercise Specialist ACSM - Certification - Others
Work Experience:
Relevant Work Experience
Experience Level:
Less than 1 year
Education:
Bachelor's (Required)
This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.
Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.
