Palliative Care Physician

As a Palliative Care Physician with our physician-centric organization, you will join a dedicated team delivering top-quality, accessible palliative care to patients and families within the community's hospital and outpatient settings. We are committed to supporting our physicians so you can focus entirely on patient well-being, enhancing their quality of life through comprehensive symptom management and supportive care. Our comprehensive resources are designed to streamline administrative tasks and enhance your practice within this dynamic interdisciplinary environment.

In your practice, you will engage in a flexible work schedule, typically involving combinations of dedicated inpatient consultations, outpatient clinic hours, and potentially on-call responsibilities. You will be responsible for providing comprehensive palliative care, including holistic patient assessments, advanced symptom management, goals-of-care discussions, and psychosocial and spiritual support. This role demands strong clinical acumen for managing complex chronic and life-limiting conditions, as well as exceptional communication skills to navigate sensitive conversations with diverse patient populations and their families. You will collaborate closely with referring physicians, specialists, nurses, social workers, spiritual care providers, and other healthcare professionals to ensure seamless patient transitions and optimal supportive care throughout the illness trajectory.

To be successful in this role, you will be a board-certified or board-eligible Palliative Medicine Physician committed to upholding the highest standards of medical ethics and customary practice. You will possess exceptional clinical skills in palliative care and a deep passion for providing compassionate, high-value care that aligns with patient values and preferences.

• Comprehensive Palliative Care Consultation & Management - Be responsible for all aspects of palliative care, ensuring patient comfort, dignity, and improved quality of life both in the inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Holistic Patient Assessment & Planning - Conduct thorough patient and family assessments, identify physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs, and develop individualized, patient-centered palliative care plans.
• Advanced Symptom Management - Expertly manage complex symptoms including pain, dyspnea, nausea, fatigue, and other distressing symptoms associated with serious illness.
• Goals-of-Care Discussions - Facilitate sensitive and effective conversations with patients and families regarding their understanding of illness, prognosis, values, and preferences for medical care, including advance care planning.
• Psychosocial & Spiritual Support - Provide direct support or facilitate referrals for patients and families facing the emotional, social, and spiritual challenges of serious illness.
• Collaboration and Communication - Actively participate in an interdisciplinary team, communicating effectively with referring physicians, specialists, nurses, social workers, and other providers, and providing timely updates to patients and families.
• Documentation and Quality Improvement - Accurately document all palliative care consultations and interventions for patient record and billing purposes, and contribute to continuous quality improvement initiatives within the department and program.
• Education and Mentorship - Educate patients, families, and healthcare colleagues on palliative care principles and practice. May support the teaching of medical students, residents, and other healthcare trainees as needed.

We are offering a competitive base salary guaranteed for up to three years, a generous CME allowance, and up to $200,000 in recruiting incentives, which include a sign-on bonus, student loan assistance, a residency bonus, and relocation assistance for new hires who meet the eligibility requirements. Additionally, a Physician Mentorship Program is available for professional growth and development.

Required Qualifications:

• Doctorate of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) required.
• Current, unrestricted Physician License in the state of Colorado required.
• Board Certification or Board Eligibility in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. (Primary board certification in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Anesthesiology, or another relevant specialty, is also highly desired).
• Current BLS from the American Heart Association required.
• Successful completion of an ACGME-accredited Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship program.

Physical Requirements: Medium Work - (Exert up to 50lbs force occasionally, and/or up to 20lbs frequently, and/or up to 10lbs constantly)

About Penrose Hospital & Colorado Springs

Located in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, Penrose Hospital has been a trusted healthcare provider for the Pikes Peak region since 1890 and remains a flagship hospital within the community. Recognized for its commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and compassionate care, Penrose offers physicians the opportunity to practice in a collaborative, high-acuity environment while serving a growing and diverse patient population.

Comprehensive Clinical Services

Penrose Hospital provides a full spectrum of secondary and tertiary care services, including:

• Neurosciences and Neurosurgery
• Cancer Care
• Cardiac and Vascular Services
• Emergency and Trauma Care
• Advanced Diagnostic Imaging
• Hospice and Palliative Care

Level I Trauma Center Excellence

Penrose Hospital is proudly verified as a Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons, the highest designation available for trauma care. This distinction reflects the hospital’s ability to provide comprehensive trauma services—from injury prevention and emergency intervention to surgical management, critical care, rehabilitation, and recovery. 

Colorado Springs, Colorado’s second-largest city, offers an exceptional quality of life and the ideal balance of professional opportunity and outdoor adventure.

• Stunning Natural Beauty: Situated at the base of the Rocky Mountains, the city is home to renowned landmarks such as Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods, offering year-round access to hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, and countless outdoor recreational activities.
• Exceptional Climate: With more than 300 days of sunshine annually and four distinct seasons, Colorado Springs provides an ideal environment for an active lifestyle.
• Thriving Economy: The region boasts a strong and diverse economy driven by healthcare, technology, aerospace, and defense industries, creating a stable and vibrant community.
• Outstanding Quality of Life: Residents enjoy excellent schools, family-friendly neighborhoods, manageable commute times, and a lower cost of living compared to many other major metropolitan markets.
• Vibrant Community: Colorado Springs offers a rich blend of arts, culture, dining, local breweries, and year-round festivals, creating a welcoming and engaging place to live and work.

Unless directed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement, applications for this position will be considered on a rolling basis. CommonSpirit Health cannot anticipate the date by which a successful candidate may be identified.