What are the responsibilities and job description for the Palliative Care Physician (MD/DO) - South Dakota position at Commonwealth Medical Services?
Palliative Care Physician (MD/DO)Position Summary
The Palliative Care Physician provides comprehensive, patient- and family-centered care focused on symptom management, psychosocial support, and alignment of medical care with patient goals and values. This role serves patients with serious or life-limiting illness across inpatient and outpatient settings, working collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams to enhance quality of life throughout the continuum of care.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities- Evaluate and manage patients with serious, chronic, or life-limiting illnesses
- Provide expert symptom management including pain, dyspnea, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and delirium
- Conduct goals-of-care discussions, advance care planning, and family meetings
- Provide inpatient palliative care consultation and/or outpatient palliative care clinic services
- Collaborate with primary care, hospital medicine, oncology, critical care, and specialty teams
- Support care coordination and transitions across care settings, including hospice referral when appropriate
- Participate in interdisciplinary rounds with nursing, social work, chaplaincy, and case management
- Educate patients, families, and healthcare teams regarding palliative care principles and services
- Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation
- Participate in quality improvement, patient safety, and outcomes initiatives
- Supervise and educate residents, fellows, advanced practice providers, or trainees as applicable
- Comply with all regulatory, accreditation, and professional standards
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from an accredited medical school
- Completion of an accredited residency program (Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or other primary specialty)
- Completion of an accredited Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship
- Board-eligible or board-certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine
- Ability to obtain and maintain unrestricted state medical licensure
- DEA registration or eligibility
- Expertise in symptom management and complex care planning
- Strong communication skills for goals-of-care and serious illness conversations
- Ability to manage medically and psychosocially complex patients
- Interdisciplinary collaboration and team leadership skills
- Commitment to patient-centered, compassionate, and evidence-based care
- Hospital inpatient units, outpatient palliative care clinics, and community-based settings
- Schedule may include weekday clinical coverage with limited call depending on program structure
- Ability to sit, stand, and move throughout clinical environments
- Manual dexterity for examinations and clinical tasks
- Visual and auditory acuity sufficient for patient assessment and communication