Community Partners in Expert Care: Sally H. Dowling MD, CPE

By Lauren King

In Celebration of our 44th Anniversary, I had the chance to interview one of our community partners who is an advocate of end-of-life services and has supported Coastal Hospice for over 30 years. Dr. Sally Dowling is not just one of our local community partners but she also serves on our Board of Directors as Secretary. During our conversation, she shared about herself.

I grew up in northern Virginia with six siblings, attended the University of Virginia for my undergraduate degree in Chemistry, Medical College of Virginia (now called VCU School of Medicine) for my M.D., and completed my Family Medicine residency at York Hospital in York, Pennsylvania where I served as Chief Resident. I have three grown children who all live in D.C. and four grand dogs. I chose medicine, in particular Family Medicine, as my career since I have always been interested in both promoting good health and treating patients and their health issues on a longitudinal basis.

How long you have been practicing and where do you currently practice?

I have been practicing Family Medicine for 36 years, 32 of those years at the same location in Selbyville, Delaware, where I am lucky enough to treat many generations of many families! I have been collaborating with Coastal Hospice the entire time I have practiced medicine in this area.

Why is it important that we educate on end-of-life with different disciplines, such as physicians, nurses, and social workers?

team members can fully address. This also gives the patients, their families, and other support networks a more thorough understanding, which addresses many issues before they happen. This provides comfort and realistic expectations.

Can you tell us the importance of good relationships between the hospital and hospice? In your experience, what are the biggest challenges in this collaboration?

It is vitally important for hospitals and hospices to work together as an integrated network for many reasons. The hospital team can help identify patients who would benefit from hospice intervention, which not only increases the education and support for the patient and family earlier, but also can help decrease the amount of time patients spend in the hospital, which is a universal desire. Also, hospitals can help manage specific issues with hospice patients to assist in their overall care and comfort while minimizing the time spent inside the hospital.

The hospital team can help identify patients who would benefit from hospice intervention, which not only increases the education and support for the patient and family earlier, but also can help decrease the amount of time patients spend in the hospital.

Educating the end of life with a team that includes physicians, nurses, and social workers can help provide information about different end-of-life issues that none of the individual

How does hospice care improve the quality of life for your patients?

Hospice care always improves the quality of life for patients! The improvement of symptom management focus on the patient’s quality of life, education of the patient and family, support for the patient, family, and caregivers, through the last chapter of life. This, along with the ongoing support after the patient passes, makes such a difference in how the patient and family manage and process the ultimate passing of their loved one.

What is the biggest misconception about utilizing hospice services?

The biggest misconception about hospice is that enrollment means that death is near and that people are “giving up” on that patient, which is not at all true!

Have you had personal experience with hospice?

I have had personal experience with hospice as my father received hospice care during the last part of his life. Hospice care made it possible for him to stay in his comfortable environment, which made him and all of our family feel comfortable, supported, and helped us all feel peaceful with his passing.

What would you say to a patient or caregiver that can benefit from hospice?

When I am recommending hospice care to patients and their loved ones, I tell them that hospice care is the ultimate way to manage symptoms and to help the patient live the remainder of their lives to the fullest, while feeling as well as possible. It also helps them meet their goals of quality time with their loved ones as comfortably as possible.

We are thankful to Dr. Sally Dowling for her commitment to her patients and dedication to her profession. Her advocacy for quality of life is what makes her a great partner with Coastal Hospice.