Hospice and Palliative Medicine

The Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship was established at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2014 to expand the workforce of physicians skilled in the care of seriously ill individuals, including assiduous symptom management, expert diagnostic ability, clear and compassionate communication and involvement of an interdisciplinary team of providers in treatment and management. The care of such patients incorporates the role of the family and caregivers as well as addressing the physical, psychosocial, emotional and existential needs of patients and their loved ones.

Through participation in clinical rotations, the palliative care fellow will:

• achieve a deeper understanding of access to care across settings that maximizes quality of life, and focuses on care delivery in the context of the patient’s home.
• improve assessment skills and documentation of functional status of patients over time.
• identify “the syndrome of imminent death” by recognizing common signs and symptoms in the dying process and managing them effectively.
• describe appropriate and sensitive strategies for communicating that death is imminent and pronouncement of death.
• verbalize uniqueness of person and respond appropriately to conflict between one’s own and patient/family preferences/beliefs.
• promote team wellness.
• evaluate evidence-based literature and explain its application in palliative care.
• demonstrate active collaboration with other members of the interdisciplinary team.
• identity the special role and expertise of each member of the interdisciplinary team.
• describe the role of the physician within the team.
• identify behaviors leading to cohesiveness or self-destruction within the interdisciplinary team.
• assess learning needs of team members and actively participate in weekly physician teaching.
• complete self-evaluation of learning needs and importance of regular self-assessment.
• contrast decision making capacity and legal competence.
• understand common non-verbal habits and their impact on patient/family communication and trust.
• recognize differences between hospice and nursing home policies and identify processes for creating cohesive patient plan of care.

Fellows are required to present a paper suitable for publication.

Complete and submit the GME Application for Fellowship [PDF] along with the required supplemental documents.

Notice to Applicants

All applicants for the PCOM Residency programs must be legally authorized to work in the United States.