The challenge with the COVID-19 crisis, is that we are all in new, unknown territory. The unknown, the uncertainty, the daily challenge, and the stress that goes with this, is a lot to bear. As care providers, as associates or business owners, as community and family members, and as individuals we have so much to deal with right now.
If we take the lessons from dealing with emergencies, and crisis management, we can apply these learnings at this time. In a Mindfit web post from December 4, 2014 titled, "How can you cope with a life crisis and move on?" the author cites Swedish psychiatrist Johan Cullenberg's work (2003) that suggests that crises can be understood as four phases with distinct characteristics. First, there is the Shock Phase that happens within the first hours or days of the event. Then there is the Reaction Phase, which is when mental defence mechanisms kick in, lasting weeks. This is followed by the Healing and Processing Phase where defense mechanisms settle down, and finally the Reorientation Phase, where after months the individual can look out at the world again.
Our collective, and individual response to the challenges ahead of us are the things that will get us through this crisis. Some of the advice in the crisis management post is to try and find acceptance with the pain and stress that goes with the crisis event. They advise to talk to others, and to challenge your negative thoughts. They discuss recording or appreciating the positive, and to take time to get help. Certainly, our regulatory bodies, and provincial and federal organizations are here to help. Safety first, is the collective mandate.
When it comes to the University of Alberta, School of Dentistry, we have had to make dramatic responses suspending undergraduate clinics, except for managing emergencies. Immediate modifications and changes to the undergraduate and graduate program curriculum have been implemented. Helping staff and students with these transitions, has been a call to action.
Yet, for all the immediate response and management requirements, we still look to the future. Helping our students, staff, faculty, alumni, and the broader dental community, excel during this time. With CDE, we are working on ways to reach out to the dental community with a series of academic and applied online lectures. We are also in the process of modifying a number of our certification programs, including the CBCT certification program, to online eClass formats. There is new curriculum coming out on radiology quality assurance, and for managing clear aligners. We are running scenarios where we modify our Neuromodulator and Sedation courses curriculum, in hope to be able to have small group clinical training available when it is safe to do so.
In responding to the COVID-19 crisis, as we move from the Shock and Reaction Phase, we are hoping to head into the Processing and Reorientation Phase, aware of the opportunities and responsibilities around us.
We want the dental community to know we are available in this time of need. If there are topics, individuals, or resources we can bring into the mix to support the community, please reach out to us and start a conversation. We are here to help. By working with you, just as in the simulated emergency scenarios, our goal is to all get through this.