In our 25-year history as an action-oriented, nonprofit think tank, passionate about improving lives through oral health, the volunteer members of the Santa Fe Group have never experienced anything like the COVID-19 pandemic. We share in the nation's collective shock and grief as every hour brings news about rising health care systems demands, critical stay at home orders, new cases, and deaths. We also marvel at the extensive work of our dental colleagues who fight under unprecedented conditions for ways to address emergency oral health services.
Therefore, as part of our well-established mission to connect, convene and communicate with healthcare professionals to help catalyze change, we ask you to consider two important endeavors:
Addressing Response and Recovery:
Currently, the Santa Fe Group is working with our partners to develop a thoughtful plan, including appropriate testing protocols and in-office mitigation techniques, to win patient confidence and help bring back the practice of dentistry. Also, the Santa Fe Group will work with other organizations to develop a comprehensive consensus statement and white paper on the role of dentistry in the COVID-19 response that takes into account all phases, including preparing for the second wave and facilitating with future testing and vaccine administration. If you are interested in keeping abreast of these efforts, please send your email/contact information to: SantaFeGroupOralHealth@gmail.com
Answering the Call to Volunteer:
Although the entire dental enterprise and dental professionals are experiencing tremendous volatility, we must not overlook dental team members' much needed skills to support both the public health and clinical care needs while we collectively work to return to practice. Given the urgency of the moment to save lives and contribute to this stage of the response, we call upon the dental profession and the entire dental enterprise to consider joining us in an effort to contribute to the COVID-19 crisis through volunteering. Needed services are diverse, vary geographically and include support for contact tracing, hotline management, health education, triage and screening services, provision of consultations for oral problems, and much more. Should you wish to join in this effort, please see below for helpful links and resources.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will be long lasting and its imprint on all health professions will be profound. However, right now the passing minutes are too precious to waste. We call on you to use your time and your critical skills to help make a difference.
With gratitude and support,
The Volunteer Members of the Santa Fe Group
LINK TO BE INFORMED ON RESPONSE & RECOVERY: SantaFeGroupOralHealth@gmail.com
LINKS TO RESOURCES TO VOLUNTEER YOUR SERVICES:
• Go to the Medical Reserve Corps site to learn more and access your local unit: Medical Reserve Corps
• Contact your local hospital or your State’s hospital association, or try: Health Guide USA Hospital Associations
• Access the Emergency System for Advanced Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP) to preregister as a volunteer health professional. ESAR-VHP
