Kara Carnegie
Broomfield,CO
Summary
Dedicated Exercise Physiologist with a focus on patient education, exercise prescription, and cardiac rehabilitation. Proven ability to lead cardiac rehab program though extensive experience and dedication to current program.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Exercise Physiologist
Good Samaritan, Intermountain Health
Lafayette, Colorado
08.2024 - Current
- Performs exercise stress tests on adult inpatients; tests include nuclear treadmill stress tests and nuclear Lexiscan stress tests to aid cardiologists in making accurate diagnoses. Processes EKGs. Conducts Phase I cardiac rehab, educating inpatients who had an event that deems them eligible for Phase II cardiac and pulmonary rehab. The patient population includes those with heart failure and those just out of the cath lab who are post-PCI intervention. Education is patient-specific, teaching one-on-one, giving information for recovery from their current event, and how to transition to a more heart-friendly lifestyle. Conducts phase II cardiac rehab in an outpatient setting that is registered with the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Patients are monitored through the LSI tele-system. With roughly 10 patients per class, I perform pre-exercise intake vitals, as well as during-exercise vitals. Writes exercise prescriptions for patients and processes patient reports for cardiologist review. Introduced new patients to the program. Answers exercise questions that arise, ultimately helping patients transform their lives into heart-healthy ones.
Exercise Physiologist
Children's Hospital Colorado
, Colorado
08.2012 - Current
- Performs various cardiovascular stress tests on all risk levels of patients, from low to high risk, on my own without the direct supervision of a physician. Tests include cardiopulmonary exercise stress tests measuring VO2, exercise stress tests not measuring VO2, exercise-induced bronchospasm tests, PFTs, and six-minute walk tests at various Children's Hospital Colorado locations. Helped open all three Network of Care (North, South, and Colorado Springs) Exercise Lab locations and have remained one of the main Exercise Physiologists at the North location,, helping out at Main campus when needed. Interprets 24/48-hour Holter Monitors, ZIO Monitors, and Event Monitors. Conducts cardiac rehab for patients with varying health statuses, at different locations with and without equipment, with the goal of encouraging each participant to embrace adding appropriate exercise to their lives. The main employee who pushed for a pediatric approach to cardiac rehab, and not just to follow the adult rehab model. Was a lead in the start of the Heart Chargers program, a program that aimed to help Fontan patients realize the benefits of appropriate exercise in their lives. This program has since expanded to serve more than just the Fontan population. The sole employee responsible for writing patient-specific exercise prescriptions for the first year (possibly longer) of this program, and developed a teaching outline on how to do so, as well as compiled the exercises that have been written into a document, so it is easier to write a prescription going forward. Created documents specific to this program, including an email address for patients to contact with questions, an informational brochure, the strength portion of the patient handbook, and submitted for additional edits when needed. Has stepped in to help with the program several times, sometimes with very little notification, contacting interested patients, communicating with providers, scheduling patients, writing exercise prescriptions, contacting patients for their check-ins, etc. Helped train the previous Cardiac Rehab Coordinator.
Recreational Therapist
Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
Aurora, Colorado
08.2010 - 09.2014
- Served as the main Exercise Physiologist in Children’s Colorado’s ShapeDown program. Introduced exercise to childhood obese
patients and their families showing them that exercise can be enjoyable. Teaches proper technique to ensure safety, and helps brainstorm ways to remove barriers to healthy lifestyles. All resulting in life-changing outcomes for patients and their families.
Exercise Technician
UCHealth
Fort Collins, Colorado
09.2007 - 08.2012
- Conducts various forms of cardiovascular stress tests, with the highest quality of care, allowing physicians to make the utmost informed decision as to their patients' cardiovascular condition. Testing includes Bruce Treadmills, Modified Bruce Treadmills (for cardiac rehab, aortic stenosis, etc.), treadmill stress echocardiograms, dobutamine stress echocardiograms (including modified dobutamine), nuclear Bruce Treadmills, Lexiscans, adenosine, and dobutamine nuclear stress tests. While performing, attention is paid to ensuring the quality of the test, patient safety, and patient satisfaction. Sets patients up with event monitors and Holter monitors, ensuring complete understanding and quality of tests. Performs EKGs. Lead technician in Estes Park outreach location, working as the sole Cardiovascular Technician II, one-on-one with the Cardiologist and Sonographer. Led the initiation of Dobutamine Stress Echocardiograms at the outreach site, the first chemical form of stress testing at this location, a huge accomplishment that will allow for serving a wider population. Member of the Support and Resource Team, and the Staffing Team, aiming to help better our department.
Exercise Physiologist Intern
Preventive Cardiology, Univeristy of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
01.2007 - 05.2007
- Conducted graded exercise testing of varying types, allowing the ordering physician to make the most informed decision as to the patient’s cardiovascular status and needs. Testing included VO2 max testing, treadmill stress testing, stress echocardiograms, and nuclear stress testing, all using either the Bruce or Cornell protocols. Assisted in Phase II and III cardiac rehabilitation, allowing individuals to safely return to 'normal' activity levels. Assisted patients with cardiovascular exercise, strength training, balance-assisted stretching, and EKG monitoring. Conducted orientations for new patients, attended, and instructed education classes in clinical nutrition, stress management, and disease.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Integrative Physiology
University of Colorado At Boulder
Boulder, CO08-2007
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI06-2002
Skills
- Possesses superior interpersonal skills, allowing connection with patients, cares deeply for each individual patient, ensuring full effort is given to each individual, and has extreme respect for leadership, willing to step up to aid in leadership issues when called upon Is a loving wife and mother of five children, who understands the extreme importance of family and the strong bonds that exist Understands the importance of quality communication and hard work Carries current American Heart certification in BLS and ACLS through quarterly RQI requirement completions, as well as all Children’s Hospital required education Proficient in all forms of exercise testing, EKG interpretation, and monitoring Well versed in both pediatric and adult cardiac rehab and patient education
Timeline
Exercise Physiologist
Good Samaritan, Intermountain Health
08.2024 - Current
Exercise Physiologist
Children's Hospital Colorado
08.2012 - Current
Recreational Therapist
Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
08.2010 - 09.2014
Exercise Technician
UCHealth
09.2007 - 08.2012
Exercise Physiologist Intern
Preventive Cardiology, Univeristy of Michigan
01.2007 - 05.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Integrative Physiology
University of Colorado At Boulder
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
University of Rhode Island