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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist

💰 $60,000 - $90,000

HealthcareCardiologyCardiac RehabilitationAllied Health

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking an experienced Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist to join a multidisciplinary cardiovascular care team. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist designs and delivers individualized exercise and education programs for patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and other cardiovascular conditions. This role includes patient assessment, exercise prescription and supervision, telemetry and ECG monitoring, risk stratification, lifestyle counseling, care coordination, and program quality reporting (AACVPR/organizational metrics). Ideal candidates will have strong clinical assessment skills, experience in phase II/III cardiac rehab, ACLS/BLS certification, and a patient-centered approach to behavior change and secondary prevention.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Cardiac Rehabilitation Technician / Exercise Physiologist
  • Registered Nurse (RN) with cardiovascular experience
  • Physical Therapist / Occupational Therapist transitioning into cardiac specialty

Advancement To:

  • Cardiac Rehab Program Manager / Clinical Coordinator
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinical Specialist or Lead Clinician
  • Heart Failure / Cardiovascular Disease Program Director

Lateral Moves:

  • Cardiology Clinic RN / Case Manager
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist
  • Population Health or Chronic Disease Management Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform comprehensive cardiovascular and functional assessments (medical history review, medication reconciliation, symptom review, vitals, baseline exercise tolerance testing such as 6-minute walk and MET estimation) to create individualized phase II/III cardiac rehabilitation plans.
  • Develop, implement, and regularly revise safe, evidence-based exercise prescriptions (aerobic, resistance, flexibility) tailored to cardiac diagnosis, risk stratification, post-op status, and comorbidities; document frequency, intensity, time, and type (FITT) parameters.
  • Provide continuous cardiac monitoring and interpret telemetry/ECG strips during exercise sessions; recognize and respond to arrhythmias, ischemic changes, hypotension, and other acute events; initiate emergency protocols and coordinate with code teams when required.
  • Lead symptom-limited exercise testing and supervised activity sessions, ensuring appropriate warm-up, cool-down, progression, and modification for orthopedic or pulmonary limitations.
  • Conduct risk stratification for each patient (low, moderate, high) using AACVPR and organizational guidelines and adjust supervision level, monitoring intensity, and exercise prescription accordingly.
  • Provide comprehensive patient education on secondary prevention topics including medication adherence, blood pressure and lipid management, smoking cessation, nutrition, weight management, stress reduction, sexual activity, and safe return to work.
  • Use motivational interviewing and behavior-change coaching techniques to improve adherence, facilitate lifestyle modification, and support long-term cardiovascular risk reduction.
  • Coordinate multidisciplinary care with cardiologists, primary care providers, pharmacists, dietitians, mental health professionals, physical therapists, and social workers to ensure continuity of care and optimal patient outcomes.
  • Supervise and mentor cardiac rehab technicians, exercise physiologists, students, and volunteers; delegate duties, provide feedback, and maintain competency standards for telemetry and emergency response.
  • Maintain accurate, timely clinical documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) including assessments, progress notes, exercise logs, telemetry events, patient education, and discharge summaries in compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.
  • Manage program enrollment, patient scheduling, session progression, and retention strategies to maximize participation rates and clinical outcomes.
  • Coordinate pre-authorization, insurance verification, and documentation for cardiac rehab billing (including Medicare and private payers); ensure coding and claims reflect delivered services.
  • Lead quality improvement efforts: collect and analyze outcome metrics (functional capacity, symptom scores, readmission rates, smoking cessation rates), implement interventions, and report results to leadership and AACVPR or other registries.
  • Teach group classes and individual counseling sessions focused on exercise safety, disease understanding, medication side effects, diet and nutrition principles, and psychosocial coping following cardiac events.
  • Provide transitional care planning and discharge preparation, including home exercise plans, referral to community resources, follow-up appointments, and criteria for advanced cardiac services.
  • Facilitate telehealth and remote cardiac rehabilitation sessions, including virtual exercise supervision, remote monitoring setup, patient onboarding to digital platforms, and troubleshooting common telehealth barriers.
  • Participate in preoperative and post-discharge outreach for high-risk surgical or PCI patients to support early mobilization and enrollment in cardiac rehab services.
  • Support clinical research and program evaluation by recruiting eligible patients, collecting standardized outcome measures, and adhering to research protocols and IRB requirements when applicable.
  • Maintain and test emergency equipment (defibrillators, oxygen, emergency drugs), ensure supplies are stocked, and verify staff training and competencies for advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and basic life support (BLS).
  • Provide culturally competent care and tailor educational materials and exercise recommendations to diverse populations, addressing language barriers, health literacy, and socioeconomic determinants of health.
  • Serve as a clinical resource for inpatient teams regarding safe activity progression, home exercise readiness, and outpatient cardiac rehab referral criteria.
  • Ensure program compliance with AACVPR accreditation standards, institutional policies, HIPAA privacy regulations, and local/state licensing requirements.
  • Track and communicate patient progress to referring physicians and care teams, escalating clinical concerns such as recurrent angina, decompensated heart failure, or new significant arrhythmias.

Secondary Functions

  • Support program development, policy updates, and standard operating procedures for cardiac rehab delivery and telehealth expansion.
  • Contribute to community outreach and population health initiatives (screenings, education fairs, caregiver workshops) to increase referral volume and community awareness.
  • Assist with staff scheduling, competency training, in-service education, and cross-training to maintain coverage and high-quality patient care.
  • Participate in grant writing, program budget planning, and equipment procurement to expand service offerings and technology-enabled rehab.
  • Collaborate with quality and data teams to prepare AACVPR registry submissions, internal dashboards, and payer-required outcome reports.
  • Assist with marketing materials and patient-facing resources to improve program enrollment and retention.
  • Support infection control, facility safety checks, and maintenance of rehabilitation exercise equipment.
  • Mentor and precept students or new hires and participate in interdisciplinary case conferences and morbidity reviews.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Cardiac rehabilitation program development and clinical management (phase I/II/III familiarity)
  • Exercise prescription and functional capacity testing (6-minute walk, MET estimation, graded exercise testing support)
  • Telemetry and ECG monitoring: rhythm recognition, ischemia detection, and acute event identification
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification and emergency response proficiency
  • Knowledge of cardiovascular pharmacology (antiplatelets, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, statins) and implications for exercise
  • Risk stratification using AACVPR/ESC/AHA guidelines and application to supervision levels
  • Electronic Health Record (EHR) documentation proficiency (Epic, Cerner, Meditech or equivalent)
  • Data collection and reporting for quality metrics and registries (AACVPR registry experience preferred)
  • Medicare and payer-specific cardiac rehabilitation billing, authorization processes, and documentation requirements
  • Telehealth platform setup and remote patient monitoring systems (RPM) for cardiac rehab delivery
  • Functional outcome measurement and interpretation (VO2 estimation, blood pressure response, RPE use)
  • Program performance analytics and quality improvement methodologies (PDSA cycles, root cause analysis)

Soft Skills

  • Strong patient-centered communication and education skills; ability to explain complex cardiac concepts in plain language
  • Empathy and motivational interviewing skills to support behavior change and improve adherence
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration and care coordination with physicians, therapists, and allied health staff
  • Excellent clinical judgment and situational awareness in emergency and high-acuity scenarios
  • Organizational skills, time management, and ability to balance caseloads across multiple patients and documentation needs
  • Leadership, mentoring, and staff development capabilities
  • Cultural competence and sensitivity to diverse patient populations and health literacy levels
  • Problem-solving orientation and continuous improvement mindset
  • Resilience and adaptability in a fast-paced clinical environment
  • Attention to detail and commitment to regulatory compliance and patient safety

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN), Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Physical Therapy (DPT), Occupational Therapy (OT), or related allied health field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Exercise Physiology, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Public Health, Nursing (MSN), or related graduate degree.
  • Certification such as Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional (CCRP) or AACVPR certification preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Nursing
  • Exercise Physiology / Kinesiology
  • Physical Therapy / Occupational Therapy
  • Public Health / Health Education

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years in cardiac rehabilitation, cardiovascular nursing, or related clinical role.

Preferred: 3+ years of direct cardiac rehab experience with documented competency in phase II/III program delivery, telemetry monitoring, and AACVPR registry reporting. Prior experience supervising technicians or managing clinical workflows is highly desirable.

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