The Dentist
Meet Pamela
Dr. Pamela Li has practiced dentistry in her hometown of Ottawa since 1994. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a bachelor’s in chemistry before going on to complete her dental training at the University of Toronto in 1992. She then completed a general practice residency at St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital in Utica, NY. Dr. Li has provided dental services to remote indigenous communities and underprivileged communities in the Dominican Republic and St. Lucia.
What changed after COVID began?
"The moment when I realised my working life had changed dramatically due to Covid-19 was on Sunday, March 15. I received an email from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario around dinner time informing that we were to shut down immediately. I called the team to inform them and then called all the patients scheduled on Monday to cancel their appointments.
Covid has meant a lot of changes in our workplace.
Before COVID appointments were booked back-to-back and patients would wait in the waiting room. It was easier to schedule emergencies and sometimes we would run late. We would all take our lunch break together and eat together.
Now the appointments are staggered with extra time scheduled in between each appointment for fallow time after aerosol procedures and extra cleaning.
Most patients are brought right in for their appointment (we used to have them call us when they arrive to get permission to enter but have stopped that). It is difficult to find time for emergency appointments and we rarely run late as extra time is scheduled for each appointment.
How did you adapt to COVID in the workplace?
"So Covid has meant we see less patients per day and it’s also meant a lot of extra work for me and staff - screening, scheduling, cleaning, paperwork and so on. Also using PPEs (N95, face shields, gowns) has made our work hot and sweaty! Covid has also meant that more team-work and cross training is necessary to help each other out. Covid has certainly meant that we are more aware, for example of aerosols in healthcare, and I think we’ll continue to use of purifiers and N95s once the pandemic is over. Also I think we’ll carry on with education webinars and seminars including international ones and staff training."
Pandemic workplace: Object for museum collection
" Covid affected how I live in many ways. My daughters moved back home, and my husband was working from home. I had to care more for parents such as buying all their groceries and doing their errands. If a museum asked me what one object they should collect and display to tell future generations about my experience of living and working with Covid I would suggest N95 mask. They should talk about the difficulties in purchasing them, fitting them properly and wearing them in the workplace all day - they are so hot and uncomfortable!"