Group Support Facilitator

About Carda

Rehab is a pain. So much so that only 10% of qualifying Cardiac and Pulmonary patients attend, which results in complications for patients and at least $190B in costs. At Carda Health, we've reimagined rehab. Our program allows patients to complete engaging, compassionate, and life-saving rehabilitation remotely.

Who are we?

We are a team of data scientists, mathematicians, repeat entrepreneurs, and clinicians. And one recovering financier. Our united belief is that technology and data, when applied ethically and compassionately, can transform individuals' lives and fundamentally change even the most entrenched industries. Carda was founded by Harry and Andrew, two friends from Wharton who share a family history of heart disease and experience with Cardiac Rehab. We now work with some of America's largest and top-ranked hospitals and most innovative insurers. We are fortunate to be backed by some of the best seed investors in the business who have also backed the likes of Livongo, Mammoth Biosciences, and Ro to name a few.

Who are you?

You are a skilled group facilitator and mental health professional who will create the emotionally safe, connective heart of our Intensive Cardiac Rehab (ICR) program. Uniquely, you will operate as a core member of an ICR transdisciplinary team, leveraging a collaborative lifestyle medicine framework across four specific elements: Nutrition, Stress Management, Group Support, and Exercise. You, like us, believe in the power of telehealth to expand access to life saving care and ultimately reinvent the way Americans receive healthcare. You will play a defining role in the success of the groundbreaking clinical studies we are running with world leading health systems in Pennsylvania and New York. If you are passionate about doing whatever it takes to help people in need and transforming the way millions of people receive life saving care then please apply!

In this role, you will

• Lead group support sessions for cardiac rehab patients according to our clinical protocols.
• Take pride in delivering high quality care for patients going through our cardiac rehab program and our clinical studies.
• Wear many hats: anything from providing education during our Lifestyle Classes to responding to patients' technical issues.
• Work directly with founders to innovate and improve our cutting edge digital care delivery model.
• Provide support to our patients, empowering them to be accountable and take ownership of their rehabilitation.
• Work collaboratively with our technology team to support a smooth experience for our patients and clients
• Actively engage in a highly collaborative, transdisciplinary team approach, serving as a primary catalyst for healing and patient connection.
• Maintain at least a basic understanding of all four program element guidelines to support holistic, multi-directional patient education.
• Be willing to do whatever it takes to ensure a great, engaging rehab experience for our patients.

Group Support Element Responsibilities:

Group Support Facilitators will be competent in facilitating the Group Support element of ICR after going through Carda Health's training to become certified Ornish ICR providers, and will maintain a working understanding of all four elements.

Group Support

• Create and maintain an emotionally safe virtual environment utilizing active listening, mindful session pacing, and conflict de-escalation skills.
• Lead feelings-based group processes using compassionate, motivational communication; help patients differentiate between thoughts and feelings or emotions, build comfort in expressing feelings, and listening with empathy.
• Educate participants on the documented medical value of group support in reducing social loneliness and isolation.
• Teach participants how social support works synergistically alongside nutrition, stress management, and physical activity to address drivers of cardiovascular disease.

Stress Management

• Support patients in the five core Ornish ICR stress management techniques: gentle postures, mindful breathing, progressive relaxation, healing imagery, and meditation.
• Reinforce the physiological impacts of stress on blood pressure, heart rate, angina/chest pain, blood vessel spasms, clot formation, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.

Nutrition

• Maintain a basic understanding of the very low-fat, low-sugar, whole foods plant-based (WFPB) ICR reversal nutrition guidelines and their role in disease reversal, to support holistic patient education.

Exercise

• Maintain a basic understanding of the benefits of regular exercise and how exercise can improve physical and mental health.

What We Look For (Requirements)

• Minimum 2+ years of relevant clinical or facilitation experience, ideally running support groups in a behavioral health, cardiopulmonary, or chronic disease setting.
• Licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, or other mental health professional.
• Master’s Degree required in social work, counseling, or a related mental health field.
• Strong proficiency working with mobile technology - you will be helping guide patients through our digital health programs including troubleshooting their technology issues with wearables and tablets.
• Great interpersonal skills that foster a caring environment for patients.
• Diligence and organization with the ability to create and adhere to repeatable processes.
• Ability to perform with little direction in a high-growth, early stage startup (ie self-driven).

Bonus Points

• Prior experience delivering Dean Ornish's ICR / OLM program.
• Experience running support groups.
• Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) or other stress management / mind-body training and experience.
• Registered Dietician or other nutrition education (such as a Masters in Nutrition Science) training and experience.
• Training and experience with a low fat WFPB nutrition plan
• Spanish language proficiency.
• Experience participating in clinical trials or healthcare research studies.
• Previous remote work/telehealth experience.
• Training and experience in education and health coaching

Originally posted on Himalayas