The dental office is generally a place where people go for routine cleanings, fillings, or more specialized care, all aimed at maintaining oral health. Yet, despite best practices and strict adherence to protocols, critical incidents such as a patient's death or near-death experience can occur. Such situations are emotionally taxing and mentally exhausting for dental professionals and their teams.
This blog aims to shed light on Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), a structured approach for handling the psychological aftermath of such incidents.
What is Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)?
CISM is an adaptive, short-term psychological helping-process that focuses primarily on the traumatic stress responses of individuals and groups. It incorporates various techniques and strategies to mitigate the impact of traumatic stress and accelerate normal recovery processes for those exposed to critical incidents.
Importance of CISM in Dental Settings
● Emotional Resilience: A death or near-death experience in a dental setting can cause emotional and psychological trauma to the attending dental professionals and their team members. CISM aids in building emotional resilience.
● Prevention of Long-term Effects: Untreated stress can lead to long-term psychological disorders like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which could affect the professional and personal lives of dental practitioners.
● Maintaining Practice Integrity: A well-handled response to a traumatic incident can help in maintaining the credibility of the dental practice.
● Legal Safeguard: Proactive stress management can serve as an additional protective measure in case of legal scrutiny following an adverse event.
Key Components of CISM
Pre-Incident Preparedness
● Training and Awareness: Equip the team with basic CISM knowledge through workshops or training sessions.
Immediate Response
● Triage and Assessment: Identify the individuals most affected by the incident for immediate psychological first aid.
Acute Phase
● Defusing: A brief, confidential meeting to discuss feelings, thoughts, and reactions, typically held within 24-72 hours of the incident.
● Debriefing: A structured group discussion aimed at mitigating the impact of the event and facilitating the natural recovery process.
Post-incident Support
● Follow-up and Referral: Connect affected individuals with qualified mental health professionals for additional support if required.
Conclusion
The death or near-death of a patient is a traumatic event that affects not just the patient's family but also the healthcare providers involved. CISM is a systematic approach that can be employed to manage the stress and emotional toll that comes with such critical incidents. Implementing a well-thought-out CISM plan can significantly benefit dentists and their teams, offering both immediate and long-term support.
By preparing for the worst-case scenarios, dental practices can better equip themselves to handle the emotional and psychological ramifications of critical incidents, ultimately allowing for a faster return to normalcy and preventing long-term psychological fallout.