Jeanie Youngwerth, MD

Associate Professor, Medicine-Internal Medicine


FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, University of Illinois College of Medicine (1996)
Undergraduate School
  • BS, University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign (IL) (1991)
Internship
  • University of Colorado (1997)
Residency
  • University of Colorado, Internal Medicine (1999)
Languages
English
Department
Medicine-Internal Medicine

Professional Titles

  • Fellowship Associate Program Director
  • Director of Palliative Care Curriculum
  • Program Director, Palliative Care Service
  • Hospitalist

Recognitions

  • Clinical Effectiveness and Patient Safety Award, University of Colorado Hospital (2011)
    Recognition of major contributions to patient safety and the leadership and successes of the Palliative Care service
  • Denver's Top Doctors Award - Palliative Medicine, 5280 Magazine (2010)
    Regional top provider voted on by the region's physicians and published in the 5280 magazine
  • Peak Performer Award - Hospitalist, Rocky Mountain Hospital Medicine Symposium (2010)
    Regional top inpatient provider voted on by the region's physicians, nurses, advance practice nurses, physician assistants and pharmacists
  • Humanism Award, Hospitalist Training Track (2008)
    Hospitalist Training Tract Attending Physician Role Model demonstrating outstanding achievement in Compassion/Sensitivity, Ethics, Bedside Manner, and Enthusiasm
  • Denver's Top Doctors Award - Palliative Medicine, 5280 Magazine (2012)
    Regional top provider voted on by the region's physicians and published in the 5280 magazine
  • Denver's Top Doctors Award - Palliative Medicine, 5280 Magazine (2013)
    Regional top provider voted on by the region's physicians and published in the 5280 magazine
  • Advanced Certification in Palliative Care, Joint Commission (2013)
    Recognizes hospital programs that demonstrate exceptional patient and family-centered care and optimize the quality of life for patients with serious illness
  • President’s Award - Rock Solid Economics, University of Colorado Hospital (2013)
    Recognition of the commitment and dedication to the University of Colorado Hospital and patients
  • Excellence in Clinical Innovation Award, University of Colorado Hospital (2014)
    University of Colorado Hospital recognition of major contributions to excellence in clinical care with the Palliative Care Service
  • Fellow Status from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, AAHPM (2014)
    Advancement to fellowship status within the academy honors dedication to and scholarship in the field of the hospice and palliative medicine
  • Denver's Top Doctors Award - Palliative Medicine, 5280 Magazine (2014)
    Regional top provider voted on by the region's physicians and published in the 5280 magazine
  • Kaiser Permanente Teaching Award: Outstanding Clinical Teacher, UCD School of Medicine (2015)
    Awarded by the School of Medicine students to recognize outstanding clinical teaching
  • Gold Headed Cane Award, Department of Medicine (2015)
    Awarded by the Department of Medicine faculty and residents for “your single devotion to the interests of your patients and the promise that you will uphold the tradition of your doctor position”
  • Denver's Top Doctors Award - Palliative Medicine, 5280 Magazine (2015)
    Regional top provider voted on by the region's physicians and published in the 5280 magazine
  • Denver's Top Doctors Award - Palliative Medicine, 5280 Magazine (2016)
    Regional top provider voted on by the region's physicians and published in the 5280 magazine
  • Denver's Top Doctors Award - Palliative Medicine, 5280 Magazine (2017)
    Regional top provider voted on by the region's physicians and published in the 5280 magazine
  • Denver's Top Doctors Award - Palliative Medicine, 5280 (2018)
    Regional top provider voted on by the region's physicians and published in the 5280 magazine
  • Presidential Citation for Meritorious Service Award, University of Colorado Hospital (2018)
    University of Colorado Hospital recognition for outstanding contribution to organizational performance improvement, patient safety and clinical outcomes, and enduring commitment and vision
  • Expert Council for Clinical Excellence and Leadership, Department of Medicine (2018)
    EXCCEL serves as a Department of Medicine resource to promote and model the culture of exceptional clinical care

Research Interests

My research interests include creative arts therapy for people living with serious illness, advance care planning and palliative care in rural settings.

Publications

  • "Palliative Care: Management of Common Physical and Psychological Symptoms," Hospital Medicine Secrets, In Press.
  • "Alcohol Withdrawal," Hospital Medicine Secrets, In Press.
  • "Integrating Palliative Care Education into Hospitalist Resident and Faculty Training," American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association Program Annual Assembly.
  • "A Novel Internal Medicine Residency Hospitalist Training Program," Society of Hospital Medicine's Research, Innovations, and Clinical Vignettes Competition.
  • "A Novel Internal Medicine Residency Hospitalist Training Program," Society of Hospital Medicine's Research, Innovation, and Clinical Vignettes Competition.
  • "The Effect of an Intensive Palliative Care-focused Retreat on Hospitalist Faculty and Resident Palliative Care Knowledge and Comfort/Confidence," Society of Hospital Medicine's Research, Innovation, and Clinical Vignettes Competition.
  • "Palliative Care: Management of Common Physical and Psychological Symptoms," Hospital Medicine Secrets; Editor, Glasheen JJ; Publisher, Elsevier, 2007; 612-618.
  • "Alcohol Withdrawal," Hospital Medicine Secrets; Editor, Glasheen JJ; Publisher, Elsevier, 2007; 451-455.
  • In the Literature; The Hospitalist, 2006; 10(7): 31-34.
  • J Youngwerth, What is the best method of treating acutely worsened chronic pain? The Hospitalist, in press.
  • Youngwerth J, End-of-Life Care. BMJ Point-of-Care 2009; wwww.pointofcare.bmj.com. (Last accessed February 2009)
  • Cumbler E, Lyle H, Guerrasio J, Youngwerth J, Wald H. Vulnerability assessment on hospital admission predicts need for placement after hospital discharge for elderly patients. JAGS, 2009.
  • Youngwerth J and Rossi C, Palliative Care. An online module developed and implemented at UCD for all Dept of Medicine Subspecialty Fellows. http://blackboard.cuonline.edu.
  • Youngwerth J, Abraham A, Rossi C, Pain Management. An online module developed and implemented at UCD for all Dept of Medicine Subspecialty Fellows. http://blackboard.cuonline.edu.
  • Guerrasio J, Wald H, Youngwerth J, Cumbler E, Incontinence and urinary catheters for the inpatient physician. The Portal of Geriatric Online Education (POGOe); 2008. http://pogoe.org. Under product ID # 20296.
  • Cumbler E, Lyle C, Guerrasio J, Youngwerth J, Wald H, Vunerable Elders Survey Score Predicts Need for Skilled Nursing Facility Rehabilitation after Hospital Discharge. Society for Hospital Medicine, Chicago, IL, May 2009.
  • Cumbler E, Wald H, Guerrasio J, Youngwerth J, Glasheen JJ. The Acute Care for the Elderly Service: A clinical service designed to educate future hospital physicians on how to improve individual and systems elements of geriatric inpatient care. Society of General and Internal Medicine, Miami Beach, FL, May 2009.
  • Cumbler E, Lyle C, Guerrasio J, Youngwerth J, Wald H, Vunerable Elders Survey Score Predicts Need for Skilled Nursing Facility Rehabilitation after Hospital Discharge. Rocky Mountian Hospital Medicine Symposium, Denver, CO, September 2008.
  • Levin D and Youngwerth J, Of Bee's Knees and the Cat's Meow: A Case of Pasteurella Multocida Septic Joint. Rocky Mountain Hospital Medicine Symposium, Denver, CO, September 2008.
  • Cumbler E, Lyle C, Guerrasio J, Youngwerth J, Wald H, Vunerable Elders Survey Score Predicts Need for Skilled Nursing Facility Rehabilitation after Hospital Discharge. Hartford/Jahnigen COE Symposium, Denver, CO, February 2009.
  • Cumbler E, Guerrasio J,Youngwerth J, Zerzan J, Rosen S, Competency-Based Test of Inpatient Geriatric Management Skills for Residents and Medical Students. The Portal of Geriatric Online Education (POGOe); 2009.
  • End-of-life care. BMJ Point-of-Care 2010; www.pointofcare.bmj.com. (Last accessed September 2010)
  • Youngwerth J and Twaddle M. Cultures of Interdisciplinary Teams - How to Foster Good Dynamics. J Pall Med. In press.
  • Youngwerth J, Bartley J, Yamashita T, Kutner J. Characteristics associated with higher cost per day or longer length of stay in hospitalized patients who died during the hospitalization or were discharged to hospice. J Hosp Med. In press.
  • Wald HL, Cumbler E, Guerrasio J, Youngwerth J, Glasheen JJ. A Hospitalist-run Acute Care for the Elderly Service Improves Processes of Care. J Hosp Med. In press.
  • Youngwerth J and Rossi C. Palliative Care. Blackboard Online Module developed and implemented at University of Colorado Denver, required curriculum for all Department of Medicine Fellows and all residents and fellows in all Departments. Available at http://blackboard.cuonline.edu, 2010-2011.
  • Youngwerth J, Sung-Joon M, Kutner J, Fischer S. Who Would Benefit from a Palliative Care Consult in the Hospital? CARING About Prognosis (CAP), Rocky Mountain Hospital Medicine Symposium, Denver, CO, October 2010.
  • Youngwerth J, Sung-Joon M, Kutner J, Fischer S. Who Would Benefit from a Palliative Care Consult in the Hospital? CARING About Prognosis (CAP), University of Colorado Palliative Care Research Day, Denver, CO, January 2011.
  • Youngwerth J, Sung-Joon M, Kutner J, Fischer S. Who Would Benefit from a Palliative Care Consult in the Hospital? CARING About Prognosis (CAP), American Academy of Hospital and Palliative Medicine Annual Assembly, Vancouver, Canada, February 2011.
  • Youngwerth J and Twaddle M. Cultures of Interdisciplinary Teams - How to Foster Good Dynamics. J Pall Med. 2011;14(5):650-654.
  • Youngwerth J. End-of-life care. BMJ Point-of-Care 2011; www.pointofcare.bmj.com. (Last accessed July 2011)
  • Wald HL, Cumbler E, Guerrasio J, Youngwerth J, Glasheen JJ. A Hospitalist-run Acute Care for the Elderly Service. J Hosp Med. 2011;6:313-321.
  • Youngwerth J, Bartley J, Yamashita T, Kutner J. Characteristics associated with higher cost per day or longer length of stay in hospitalized patients who died during the hospitalization or were discharged to hospice. J Hosp Med. 2011;6:338-343.
  • Rowan SE, Levi ME, Youngwerth JM, Brauer B, Everson GT, Johnson S. The variable presentations and broadening geographic distribution of hepatic fascioliasis. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, in press.
  • Lien C, Youngwerth J. Patient Controlled Analgesia. Hospital Medicine Clinics, in press.
  • Youngwerth J, Fischer S, Min S-J, Kutner J. Who would benefit from a palliative care consult in the hospital? CARING about prognosis (CAP) (313-C). J Pain Symptom Manage. 2011;41(1)192-3.
  • Johnson, A and Youngwerth, J. Phenytoin hypersensitivity presenting as worsening hemiparesis and fever. Society of Hospital Medicine, San Diego, CA, April 2012.
  • Palliative care. BMJ Point-of-Care 2013; www.pointofcare.bmj.com. (Last accessed January 2013)
  • Fink RM, Oman KS, Youngwerth J, Bryant L. A Palliative Care Needs Assessment in Rural Hospitals. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2013, accepted for publication January 2013 (Manuscript ID JPM-2012-0574.R1).
  • Cumbler E, Guerrasio J, Youngwerth J, Zerzan J, Rosen S, Brandenburg S, Aagaard E, Wald H. Competency-Based Test of Inpatient Geriatric Management for Residents and Medical Students. MedEdPORTAL; 2012. Available at www.mededportal.org/publication/9180.
  • Rowan SE, Levi ME, Youngwerth JM, Brauer B, Everson GT, Johnson S. The variable presentations and broadening geographic distribution of hepatic fascioliasis. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2012;10:598–602.
  • Lien C, Youngwerth J. Patient-Controlled Analgesia. Hospital Medicine Clinics 2012;1(3):e386-e403.
  • Johnson, A and Youngwerth, J. Phenytoin hypersensitivity presenting as worsening hemiparesis and fever. Society of Hospital Medicine, San Diego, CA, April 2012.
  • Youngwerth J, Min SJ, Statland B, Allyn R, Fischer S. Caring about prognosis: a validation study of the caring criteria to identify hospitalized patients at high risk for death at 1 year. J Hosp Med. 2013 Dec;8(12):696-701. PubMed PMID: 24227748
  • Fink RM, Oman KS, Youngwerth J, Bryant LL. A palliative care needs assessment of rural hospitals. J Palliat Med. 2013 Jun;16(6):638-44. PubMed PMID: 23607812
  • Youngwerth J. Palliative Care Monograph. BMJ Point-of-Care 2014; www.pointofcare.bmj.com. (Last accessed January 2015)
  • Palliative Care Monograph www.pointofcare.bmj.com
  • Youngwerth J. Palliative Care Monograph. BMJ Point-of-Care 2015; www.pointofcare.bmj.com.
  • Harri Brackett, MS, RN, CNS, ACHPN; Barb Wenger, MS, RN, AOCNS, CRNI; Shannon Johnson Bortolotto, MS, RN, APN, CCNS; Veronica Baiamonte, BA, AA; Janna R. Petrie, MS, RN, CCRN; Jean Marso MS, RN; Margaret Sande, MD, MS; Jeanie Youngwerth, MD, FAAHPM. Compassionate Extubation in a Non-ICU Setting. Poster presentation; Society of Hospital Medicine Annual Conference, 2015 March 29-April 1, National Harbor, MD.
  • Morrison K and Youngwerth J. Palliative Sedation Therapy. Hospital Medicine Clinics 2016 Jan;5(1):101–113.
  • Brewer BW, Caspari JM, Youngwerth J, Nathan L, Ripoll I, Heru A. Demoralization in medical illness: Feasibility and acceptability of a pilot educational intervention for inpatient oncology nurses. Palliat Support Care. 2017 Aug 9;:1-8. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28789725
  • Lum HD, Dukes J, Church S, Abbott J, Youngwerth JM. Teaching Medical Students About "The Conversation": An Interactive Value-Based Advance Care Planning Session. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2018 Feb;35(2):324-329. PubMed PMID: 28273761
  • Morrison K and Youngwerth J. Palliative Sedation Therapy. Hospital Medicine Clinics 2016; 5(1):101-113.
  • Kittelson S, Pierce R, Youngwerth J. Palliative Care Scorecard. J Palliat Med. 2017 May;20(5):517-527. PubMed PMID: 28080183
  • Kittelson S, Pierce R, Youngwerth J. Palliative Care Scorecard. Journal of Palliative Medicine, in press.
  • Liu Y, Kline D, Aerts S, Youngwerth JM, Kutner JS, Sillau S, Kluger BM. Inpatient Palliative Care for Neurological Disorders: Lessons from a Large Retrospective Series. J Palliat Med. 2017 Jan;20(1):59-64. PubMed PMID: 27898260
  • Liu Y, Kline D, Aerts S, Youngwerth J, Kutner J, Sillau S, Kluger B. Inpatient Palliative Care for Neurologic Disorders: Lessons from a Large Retrospective Series. Journal of Palliative Medicine, in press.
  • Palliative Care as a Partner, Not an Alternative, to Active Anticancer Care: Will the United States Catch Up With the Rest of the World? ASCO Connection, April 2016.
  • Brewer BW, Caspari JM, Youngwerth J, Nathan L, Ripoll I, Heru A. Demoralization in medical illness: Feasibility and acceptability of a pilot educational intervention for inpatient oncology nurses. Palliat Support Care. 2018 Oct;16(5):503-510. PubMed PMID: 28789725
  • Lum HD, Dukes J, Church S, Abbott J, Youngwerth JM. Teaching Medical Students About "The Conversation": An Interactive Value-Based Advance Care Planning Session. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2018 Feb;35(2):324-329. PubMed PMID: 28273761
  • Youngwerth J, Coats H, Jones A, Wibben A, Somes E, Felton S, Anderson A, Flarity K, Elliott K, Kutner JS. Integrating Creative Arts Therapy with Palliative Care. J Palliat Med. 2019 Nov;22(11):1306-1307. PubMed PMID: 31661396
  • Swarm RA, Paice JA, Anghelescu DL, Are M, Bruce JY, Buga S, Chwistek M, Cleeland C, Craig D, Gafford E, Greenlee H, Hansen E, Kamal AH, Kamdar MM, LeGrand S, Mackey S, McDowell MR, Moryl N, Nabell LM, Nesbit S, O'Connor N, Rabow MW, Rickerson E, Shatsky R, Sindt J, Urba SG, Youngwerth JM, Hammond LJ, Gurski LA. Adult Cancer Pain, Version 3.2019, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2019 Aug 1;17(8):977-1007. PubMed PMID: 31390582
  • Singh S, Herrmann K, Cyriacks W, Youngwerth J, Bickel KE, Lum HD. Increasing Medical Power of Attorney Completion for Hospitalized Patients During the COVID Pandemic: A Social Work Led Quality Improvement Intervention. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2020 Dec 1. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33271315
  • Brungardt A, Wibben A, Tompkins AF, Shanbhag P, Coats H, LaGasse AB, Boeldt D, Youngwerth J, Kutner JS, Lum HD. Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy in Palliative Care: A Pilot Implementation Trial. J Palliat Med. 2020 Nov 23. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33227225
  • O'Keefe S, Maddux AB, Bennett KS, Youngwerth J, Czaja AS. Variation in Pediatric Palliative Care Allocation Among Critically Ill Children in the United States. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020 Oct 28. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33116070
  • Lin CT, Bookman K, Sieja A, Markley K, Altman RL, Sippel J, Perica K, Reece L, Davis C, Horowitz E, Pisney L, Sottile PD, Kao D, Adrian B, Szkil M, Griffin J, Youngwerth J, Drew B, Pell J. Clinical informatics accelerates health system adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic: examples from Colorado. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2020 Dec 9;27(12):1955-1963. PubMed PMID: 32687152
  • Youngwerth J, Coats H, Jones A, Wibben A, Somes E, Felton S, Anderson A, Flarity K, Elliot K, Kutner JS. Therapeutic Effects: The Integration of Creative Arts Therapy in Palliative Care. OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine. 2020 Jan;1(5):1-9. doi:10.21926/obm.icm.2001004
  • Singh S, Herrmann K, Cyriacks W, Youngwerth J, Bickel KE, Lum HD. Increasing Medical Power of Attorney Completion for Hospitalized Patients During the COVID Pandemic: A Social Work Led Quality Improvement Intervention. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2021 Mar;61(3):579-584.e1. PubMed PMID: 33271315
  • Brungardt A, Wibben A, Tompkins AF, Shanbhag P, Coats H, LaGasse AB, Boeldt D, Youngwerth J, Kutner JS, Lum HD. Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy in Palliative Care: A Pilot Implementation Trial. J Palliat Med. 2021 May;24(5):736-742. PubMed PMID: 33227225
  • O'Keefe S, Maddux AB, Bennett KS, Youngwerth J, Czaja AS. Variation in Pediatric Palliative Care Allocation Among Critically Ill Children in the United States. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2021 May 1;22(5):462-473. PubMed PMID: 33116070
  • Srolovitz M, Borgwardt J, Burkart M, Clements-Cortes A, Czamanski-Cohen J, Ortiz Guzman M, Hicks MG, Kaimal G, Lederman L, Potash JS, Yazdian Rubin S, Stafford D, Wibben A, Wood M, Youngwerth J, Jones CA, Kwok IB. Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Music Therapy and Art Therapy. J Palliat Med. 2022 Jan;25(1):135-144. PubMed PMID: 34665661
  • Glinzak L, Yazdian S, Kwok I, Youngwerth J. Integrating Art Therapy into Palliative Care: Man's Identity Exploration in Tattoo Preservation. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2022 Oct 27. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 36404472
  • Srolovitz M, Borgwardt J, Burkart M, Clements-Cortes A, Czamanski-Cohen J, Ortiz Guzman M, Hicks MG, Kaimal G, Lederman L, Potash JS, Yazdian Rubin S, Stafford D, Wibben A, Wood M, Youngwerth J, Jones CA, Kwok IB. Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Music Therapy and Art Therapy. J Palliat Med. 2022 Jan;25(1):135-144. PubMed PMID: 34665661
  • Glinzak L, Yazdian S, Kwok I, Youngwerth J. Integrating Art Therapy into Palliative Care: Man's Identity Exploration in Tattoo Preservation. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Mar;65(3):e241-e244. PubMed PMID: 36404472
  • Wendel SK, Whitcomb M, Solomon A, Swafford A, Youngwerth J, Wiler JL, Bookman K. Emergency department hospice care pathway associated with decreased ED and hospital length of stay. Am J Emerg Med. 2024 Feb;76:99-104. PubMed PMID: 38039564

Professional Memberships

  • American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Member and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Task Force Committee
  • Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM), Member

Practice Locations

UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital
1500 Park Central Drive
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
720-516-1000

UCHealth Palliative Care - Anschutz Medical Campus
12605 E. 16th Ave
Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-6799

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital
  • UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Internal Medicine, Board Certification (2000, 2010)
  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Board Certification (2008, 2018)
Clinical Interests
My clinical interests include improving the quality of life and well-being of people living with serious illness. This physician treats inpatients only and does not make office appointments.

Care Philosophy
I strive to provide the best care for my patients and their loved ones. I believe in learning about each patient as a person in addition to their illness, their values and priorities, and matching what matters most to a person with treatment options to individualize the care of each person.

Personal Interests
In my spare time, I enjoy mountain biking.

Volunteer Activities
I am dedicated to improving the health care and well-being of people living with serious illness. I help to inform the community about palliative care and improving the quality of life of our patients and their loved ones.

Public Speaking
Yes
I do public speaking on various topics to improve the well-being and quality of life of people living with serious illness.