Opportunities in Times of Uncertainty

In times of uncertainty we all experience our individual vulnerability as well as the vulnerability of those around us. News of the present and predictions for the future can change on a moment’s notice. It’s a shared experience, and it’s different for everyone.

Some will panic and hoard. Some will whistle in the dark. Most of us will find ourselves somewhere between the two. Some of our fears are physical and some economical. Some are based in facts and some are “what ifs.” At any given moment I feel fearful for myself and my loved ones, or confident we will all be just fine.

I have been moved by friends or acquaintances who have reached out with offers of help. Some have contacted me personally. Some in a broader sense let it be known that they are available to run errands or help in other ways. Some have just checked in to see how we are doing.

I’ve been thinking of my dental friends and how they are managing their practices in various parts of the world. I have heard from dentists who want to be the best person they can be in this situation. Some of them have already been significantly impacted, and others are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. They tell me they are concerned about the physical and economic health of their patients, their team members, themselves and their families. As health care professionals they want to have a positive impact on the health of those they know, and on the population at large.

In times like this our true character is tested, and we have an opportunity to live into our most deeply held values.

We have an opportunity to demonstrate how a “relationship based practice” really is different. Of course we have to turn inward and take care of our own health, our own needs. But we can also look outward at the needs and challenges of others. We can take advantage of the opportunity provided when we put down our dental instruments and rely on our hearts and minds to make a difference for those we serve.

How are you taking advantage of this opportunity?

Are you demonstrating a commitment to health that is both professional and compassionate; sticking to facts and not gossip about the pandemic? Are you sharing what you do — and what you know — about sterilization and disinfection? Are you sharing your knowledge about health and tips for healthy habits?

Are you taking the time to listen generously for your patients fears, concerns and needs, whether in person or on the phone? To reassure them without being dismissive of their concerns? Are you supporting each other on the team in regard to challenges with childcare, elderly or compromised family members, or other unique problems that arise?

If your schedule is light, are you condensing chair time to expand your capacity for team building? Are you having meetings to creatively use your resources to get through the crisis and plan for the future? Have you developed educational and training plans to work on those aspects of care you “never get around” to when your schedule is full? Are you looking for fun things you can do together to serve the practice and your community? You can inspire others on your team to go beyond their own concerns and stay connected to patients even if they are not in the office.

Have you thought about reaching out to patients pro-actively to learn if they have any symptoms or have traveled recently, to save them a trip if you won’t be able to see them? Are you counselling patients who have compromised immune systems, or who are fearful, to help them decide about when to have treatment? What about using down time to call or email patients you know to be at risk to see how they are doing and looking for ways you can be of service?

If your office is closed, have you thought about calling elderly patients who may live alone or in nursing homes and are unable to have visitors? Loneliness can compromise the immune system. What about checking in with those in quarantine or isolation? Or sending a note or care package to patients who might need a lift: a book, a prayer, a poem, fresh fruit, a bottle of wine or some soup? Maybe there is an errand you can run for them.

You know your team. You know your patients. When your practice is based on relationships you have an opportunity to use what you know to make a difference — not just what you know about dentistry — but what you know about them. You may have always done some of these things for your patients. Are there other things you have thought of more recently?

I have been thinking about this aspect of the current crisis for several days now. We cancelled a vacation to Maui, so I have had time to reflect. I woke up this morning with the words “Tell your heart to listen,” and I felt a need to share. I want to help if I can.

What about you? What ideas, concerns, and questions have come up for you? What help would you like?

How are you going to take advantage of the opportunity to make a difference?