Medical Exercise Program Director
The Medical Exercise Program Director is the highest-level certification the Medical Exercise Training Institute offers. As health, fitness and medical facilities implement medical exercise programs to address the growing needs of baby boomers and those with chronic medical conditions, the need for Medical Exercise Program Directors will grow to manage, develop and marketing these facilities.
Certification Details
The Medical Exercise Program Director (MEPD) acts of the liaison between the medical exercise facility or program and the medical community. The MEPD certificate prepares you to develop, manage and market a medical exercise program in any setting. The MEPD has advanced knowledge and skills in areas such as ergonomics, senior fitness, pharmacology and advanced medical exercise assessment and progression. There are 2 major projects each MED candidate must submit as well as completing 20 hours of observation in a rehab setting.
The MEPD offers you specialized knowledge beyond the MES or PRCS along with the additional skills to develop, market, manage and run a profitable practice in any setting. In addition to the clinical modules you will participate in a series of 16 LIVE webinars that review our METS program. These systems have been used by medical exercise practices around the world. Once a week on Monday evenings over 16 weeks (some sessions have homework assignments) at 9pm ET/6pm PT these modules are discussed in detail. See the schedule below.
Certification Prerequisites
The prerequisites for the MEPD are:
- Completion of the Medical Exercise Specialist or
- Completion of the Post Rehab Conditioning Specialist certification.
Certification Requirements
- Review each MEPD clinical module and complete the accompanying examination and/or case study.
- Complete the homework assignments from the METS teleseminars
- Develop and submit a business plan for a fictitious medical exercise/post rehab facility. The plan must include marketing, equipment acquisition, facility layout, administrative procedures and staff guidelines.
- Develop a presentation on a medical exercise/post rehab related topic, including handouts. The presentation must be delivered to a live audience of post rehab professionals – this presentation must be recorded and submitted to METI for review.
- Participate in a 90-minute “Practice Checklist/Marketing Review” session with Dr Mike.
MEPD Clinical Modules
| Module | Topic |
|---|---|
| Module 1 | Advanced Post Rehab Guidelines for the Knee |
| Module 2 | Advanced Post Rehab Guidelines for the Spine |
| Module 3 | Advanced Post Rehab Guidelines for the Shoulder |
| Module 4 | Ergonomics for Fitness Professionals |
| Module 5 | Pharmacology for Fitness Professionals |
| Module 6 | Essentials of Senior Fitness |
| Module 7 | Medical Exercise Foundations |
| Module 8 | MED-FIT Assessment Guidelines – Cervical Spine |
| Module 9 | MED-FIT Assessment Guidelines – Lumbar Spine |
| Module 10 | MED-FIT Assessment Guidelines – Hip |
| Module 11 | MED-FIT Assessment Guidelines – Knee |
| Module 12 | MED-FIT Assessment Guidelines – Ankle/Foot |
| Module 13 | MED-FIT Assessment Guidelines – Shoulder |
| Module 14 | MED-FIT Assessment Guidelines – Elbow/Wrist/Hand |
| Module 15 | MED-FIT Assessment Guidelines – Gait |
| Module 16 | MED-FIT Assessment Guidelines – Balance |
Medical Exercise Program Director Study Group Sessions and Schedule
| Mondays (9p ET/6pm PT) | Session | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| January 13 | 1 | Role of the MEPD, the Medical Exercise Training Model…Make the Jump to Medical Exercise Training (MET) |
| January 20 | 2 | Medical Exercise Training Systems (METS) – Generating Clients, Referrals & Profits Using Practice Systems…Where Do I Start? |
| January 27 | 3 | Target Marketing to Medical Professionals – What They Really Want & How to Give It To Them |
| February 3 | 4 | Medical Exercise Forms – Here’s How to Communicate with Medical Professionals & Insurance Carriers |
| February 10 | Break | |
| February 17 | 5 | MET Documentation & Communications Flow – When Do I Communicate and What Do I Say to Medical Professionals? |
| February 24 | 6 | Medical Exercise Protocols – Protocols Will Set You Free!! |
| March 2 | 7 | What Do I Do With the New MET Client? – Managing the New Referral for Maximal Impact |
| March 9 | 8 | Setting MET Fees – MET Requires a Different Approach & Fee Structure |
| March 16 | Break | |
| March 23 | 9 | Medical Exercise Clients – How Do I Maximize My Profits with Each Client/Condition With MET & Group Training |
| March 30 | 10 | MET Equipment, Space & Location – What Do I Need To Make a MET Practice Work? |
| April 6 | 11 | MET Staffing – When Do I Hire Staff & Where Do I Find Them & Train Them |
| April 13 | 12 | Insurance Reimbursement – The Good, The Bad & The Ugly…How to Navigate the Maze and Get PAID!! |
| April 20 | 13 | Using Social Media to Answer Your Clients Questions & Attract Referrals |
| April 27 | Break | |
| May 4 | 14 | MET Presentations – You Got Your Foot in the Door….Now What? |
| May 11 | 15 | MET Functional Outcomes – Measure & Announce Your Results to Attract Referrals |
| May 18 | 16 | Multiple Streams of MET Income – Stopping Trading Your Time for Money |
Register for the MEPD Track
1 Payment
1 time payment of $2,000.00 USD
2 Payments
2 monthly payments of $1,000.00 USD
4 Payments
4 monthly payments of $500.00 USD
METI Mission Statement
To "Bridge the Gap Between Healthcare and Fitness" by providing forums to educate fitness professionals to work cooperatively with medical professionals to develop safe and effective fitness and conditioning programs for clients with musculoskeletal, neurological, metabolic and cardiovascular conditions. The effectiveness of these fitness programs is based on functional outcome measures universally understood by medical professionals, fitness professionals and insurance carriers. The goal is to make medical exercise training the next logical step for clients and medical professionals after discharge from physical therapy, chiropractic care and medical care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to some of our most frequently asked questions about the MEPD certification.
What is the role of the MEPD?
- Develop, manage, administer and market the medical exercise program or facility in any setting.
- Serve of the liaison between the medical community and the medical exercise program.
- Serve of the primary teacher and developer of continuing education for the medical exercise staff.
- Educate medical professionals on the benefits of exercise for medical conditions.
- Supervise the medical exercise training of all clients in the MET facility referred by medical professionals.
- Continually promote and represent the MET facility at meetings, conferences, health fairs, etc.
What is required to obtain the MEPD Certification?
- Review each MEPD clinical module and complete the accompanying examination and/or case study.
- Complete the homework assignments from the METS teleseminars
- Develop and submit a business plan for a fictitious medical exercise/post rehab facility. The plan must include marketing, equipment acquisition, facility layout, administrative procedures and staff guidelines.
- Develop a presentation on a medical exercise/post rehab related topic, including handouts. The presentation must be delivered to a live audience of post rehab professionals – this presentation must be recorded and submitted to METI for review.
- Participate in a 90-minute “Practice Checklist/Marketing Review” session with Dr Mike.
What will I learn in the MEPD training?
We recently updated the MEPD curriculum to include our “Medical Exercise Training Systems” (METS) training. METS provides the MEPD with the step by step guidelines to install practice management systems in every aspect of the MET facility or practice. Whether is a large hospital-based facility or your own private MET practice, the METS systems are necessary to build and maintain a successful MET program. You will also have access to the 16 MEPD Clinical modules. These modules allow you to increase your skills in the areas of ergonomics, pharmacology and advanced medical exercise assessments of the shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, spine as well as gait and balance.
What are the opportunities for MEPDs?
The career opportunities for MEPDs are endless. With the rapid growth of MET expected over the next 20 years, there will be a shortage of MEPDs’. One of our MEPDs directs medical exercise training for the 14 World Health Clubs in Alberta, Canada; another coordinates the medical exercise and wellness program for a large northern New Jersey hospital system; many own their own facilities and a couple now operate multiple MET facilities. With the MEPD certification a similar career can be yours. MEPDs are found in hospital-based fitness centers, private health clubs, physical therapy and sportsmed clinics and chiropractic offices.
How do I know the MEPD is for me?
To determine if the MEPD is for you, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I have strong leadership skills?
- Am I innovative and creative in my approach to fitness programs?
- Is my passion for medical exercise/post rehab fitness not only towards helping clients improve function, but also towards enhancing the professional development of other post rehab professionals?
