1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,615 Yeah. 2 00:00:00,615 --> 00:00:02,685 My name is Jessica Jody or Jessica Doty. 3 00:00:02,685 --> 00:00:03,720 I'm the Director of UND, 4 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:05,070 Student Health Services. 5 00:00:05,070 --> 00:00:08,100 I've worked on campus for 13 years, 6 00:00:08,100 --> 00:00:11,325 but actually assumed in my role as the director 7 00:00:11,325 --> 00:00:14,775 in the middle of the pandemic. As our director. 8 00:00:14,775 --> 00:00:18,180 Do you remember the moment or the day 9 00:00:18,180 --> 00:00:22,260 when you realize this is going to be significant. 10 00:00:22,260 --> 00:00:25,485 This is going to affect how, 11 00:00:25,485 --> 00:00:27,300 what I do and how I do it. 12 00:00:27,300 --> 00:00:29,790 Absolutely. It's one of 13 00:00:29,790 --> 00:00:31,620 those days that is ingrained in my mind. 14 00:00:31,620 --> 00:00:34,360 We were at a staff meeting in January. 15 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:35,435 What was it? 16 00:00:35,435 --> 00:00:38,060 2019, 2020. 17 00:00:38,060 --> 00:00:40,940 January 2020 Student Health Services 18 00:00:40,940 --> 00:00:43,400 staff meeting and Rosie Dobar director 19 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:44,960 at the time stood up and was 20 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,320 telling us about this upcoming virus 21 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,755 that was happening in China and to be prepared. 22 00:00:51,755 --> 00:00:54,425 And we just looked at her. 23 00:00:54,425 --> 00:00:58,955 And I swear since that day of that meeting, 24 00:00:58,955 --> 00:01:01,415 our world kind of upturned, 25 00:01:01,415 --> 00:01:05,120 overturned and our perspective has changed dramatically. 26 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:07,070 So yes, I remember exactly almost 27 00:01:07,070 --> 00:01:09,890 the chair I was sitting in at that meeting. 28 00:01:09,890 --> 00:01:13,415 What has been the most significant impact 29 00:01:13,415 --> 00:01:15,755 on how you go about your work. 30 00:01:15,755 --> 00:01:18,140 The biggest change that we've had to, 31 00:01:18,140 --> 00:01:20,045 had to think about is 32 00:01:20,045 --> 00:01:22,415 not always being able to be in-person. 33 00:01:22,415 --> 00:01:23,960 And so as a healthcare provider 34 00:01:23,960 --> 00:01:25,250 or working in a medical clinic, 35 00:01:25,250 --> 00:01:27,500 we've had to look at other ways 36 00:01:27,500 --> 00:01:30,050 to serve students in their health care needs. 37 00:01:30,050 --> 00:01:32,270 And so one of our greatest, 38 00:01:32,270 --> 00:01:34,010 the biggest impacts was trying to come 39 00:01:34,010 --> 00:01:35,960 up with a way to still be able to reach them. 40 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:38,330 We stood up telemedicine literally 41 00:01:38,330 --> 00:01:40,759 in a day, March of 2020. 42 00:01:40,759 --> 00:01:42,410 And now offer that as an option 43 00:01:42,410 --> 00:01:44,165 or a service for students. 44 00:01:44,165 --> 00:01:45,980 Kind of telemedicine with something 45 00:01:45,980 --> 00:01:47,360 that has been toyed around with and 46 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,120 was a thought out in the medical community, 47 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:51,290 but not necessarily something 48 00:01:51,290 --> 00:01:53,000 Student Health Services is doing. 49 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:54,680 Definitely not something that we 50 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:56,405 were on the brink of even doing. 51 00:01:56,405 --> 00:01:59,360 But COVID got us to get 52 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,275 a hustle on and implement telemedicine really quickly. 53 00:02:03,275 --> 00:02:06,200 The other thing was, we weren't able to 54 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,855 test for COVID until 55 00:02:08,855 --> 00:02:12,125 last April when we were able to procure 56 00:02:12,125 --> 00:02:15,905 a machine to be able to test for COVID in our clinic. 57 00:02:15,905 --> 00:02:17,480 So students can now get 58 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:19,520 a PCR test at Student Health Services, 59 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:21,845 get results back within an hour. 60 00:02:21,845 --> 00:02:24,965 A real privilege even today. 61 00:02:24,965 --> 00:02:27,935 But prior to last April, 62 00:02:27,935 --> 00:02:30,140 in prior before the pandemic, 63 00:02:30,140 --> 00:02:32,750 we had never even considered having such a thing and 64 00:02:32,750 --> 00:02:36,390 we weren't equipped to test for it prior to that. 65 00:02:36,430 --> 00:02:41,030 The students responded to that. Taking advantage of it. 66 00:02:41,030 --> 00:02:42,860 They are taking advantage of it 67 00:02:42,860 --> 00:02:45,635 with our testing options that we have in the community. 68 00:02:45,635 --> 00:02:48,140 In combination with what we're doing at Student Health, 69 00:02:48,140 --> 00:02:50,060 It has been a real asset. 70 00:02:50,060 --> 00:02:51,650 We tend to see 71 00:02:51,650 --> 00:02:53,720 the ill students at Student Health Services. 72 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:55,280 So people who are symptomatic and 73 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,410 they can come in and get a PCR test. 74 00:02:57,410 --> 00:02:59,900 And it can test for influenza and COVID at 75 00:02:59,900 --> 00:03:01,820 the same time and 76 00:03:01,820 --> 00:03:05,045 literally get the results back in an hour or two. 77 00:03:05,045 --> 00:03:06,635 Which has been a real help. 78 00:03:06,635 --> 00:03:08,960 It also helps get people if they're positive for COVID, 79 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:13,670 it gets you to have a plan and to start your quarantine 80 00:03:13,670 --> 00:03:15,515 and your isolation and 81 00:03:15,515 --> 00:03:18,395 get out of the public as fast as possible. 82 00:03:18,395 --> 00:03:19,520 So that's been really nice for 83 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,720 students to have that opportunity on campus. 84 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:25,414 How have they responded? 85 00:03:25,414 --> 00:03:28,220 They shocked or they disappointed, 86 00:03:28,220 --> 00:03:31,055 are they sad or they resigned? 87 00:03:31,055 --> 00:03:33,065 I would say there's a whole spectrum. 88 00:03:33,065 --> 00:03:36,005 Some students are scared. 89 00:03:36,005 --> 00:03:37,310 I would say that's probably 90 00:03:37,310 --> 00:03:38,810 the majority of the responses. 91 00:03:38,810 --> 00:03:40,535 They're scared. I don't know what to do. 92 00:03:40,535 --> 00:03:42,320 I don't know where to go. I don't 93 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,630 know what this means for me. 94 00:03:44,630 --> 00:03:47,180 There are some students that are in pure 95 00:03:47,180 --> 00:03:48,920 disbelief and they want another test because 96 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,050 they don't believe that that positive result could 97 00:03:51,050 --> 00:03:54,020 even be remotely accurate. 98 00:03:54,020 --> 00:03:55,730 And I do believe there's probably 99 00:03:55,730 --> 00:03:56,930 some students who are hoping for 100 00:03:56,930 --> 00:03:59,900 a positive result because other friends, 101 00:03:59,900 --> 00:04:02,180 not because of the illness or not that they want 102 00:04:02,180 --> 00:04:04,445 COVID but their friends, I'll have COVID. 103 00:04:04,445 --> 00:04:06,080 It's what others have had 104 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,840 happened and so I should have it too. 105 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:10,790 And so I think there's been a gamut 106 00:04:10,790 --> 00:04:13,160 of responses and emotions to it. 107 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,100 College is about shared experiences, isn't it? 108 00:04:16,100 --> 00:04:18,470 That is right. If, if my roommates are going to have it, 109 00:04:18,470 --> 00:04:19,790 I want it to so that I 110 00:04:19,790 --> 00:04:24,060 can share in the isolation period together. Yeah. 111 00:04:24,220 --> 00:04:27,860 Have in your opinion, 112 00:04:27,860 --> 00:04:30,320 has the university as a whole responded to 113 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,665 the pandemic with regard to its impact on students? 114 00:04:33,665 --> 00:04:34,160 Yeah. 115 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,650 So my perspective is that I think the university 116 00:04:36,650 --> 00:04:39,260 has been very proactive indefinitely, 117 00:04:39,260 --> 00:04:43,320 had a team approach and a very comprehensive. 118 00:04:43,390 --> 00:04:46,640 It hasn't always been fun and hasn't always been easy. 119 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:48,290 I think fighting for resources 120 00:04:48,290 --> 00:04:51,125 and coordinating things has been challenging. 121 00:04:51,125 --> 00:04:53,450 But I do believe that the university took 122 00:04:53,450 --> 00:04:55,460 a lead with Grand Forks public health, 123 00:04:55,460 --> 00:04:56,600 the North Dakota Department of 124 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:58,850 Health with other universities 125 00:04:58,850 --> 00:05:01,880 to create a very strong response 126 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,310 and try to keep our students in the, 127 00:05:04,310 --> 00:05:06,170 in the forefront of our minds of what 128 00:05:06,170 --> 00:05:07,760 makes it best for students, 129 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:11,615 what makes their university career keep going, 130 00:05:11,615 --> 00:05:14,840 but also keep them safe and healthiest as best as we can. 131 00:05:14,840 --> 00:05:18,215 So I appreciate the university's response. 132 00:05:18,215 --> 00:05:26,255 What did you learn in that year from spring of 2022, 133 00:05:26,255 --> 00:05:28,400 spring of this past year 134 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,955 that you are able to make use of now. 135 00:05:31,955 --> 00:05:35,600 Any lessons learned, I will say 136 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:36,920 one of my favorite things to 137 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:38,510 say as the silver lining of COVID, 138 00:05:38,510 --> 00:05:41,225 as it has helped introduce me to people 139 00:05:41,225 --> 00:05:44,525 all around campus that I probably never would have known, 140 00:05:44,525 --> 00:05:47,150 nor would it have had a relationship with. 141 00:05:47,150 --> 00:05:49,250 And I think and hope that there's 142 00:05:49,250 --> 00:05:51,275 many others that would say the same thing. 143 00:05:51,275 --> 00:05:53,150 I think ultimately it's going to create 144 00:05:53,150 --> 00:05:55,790 a stronger university into the future. 145 00:05:55,790 --> 00:05:59,420 COVID has, you know, we have pandemic medians, and we have. 146 00:05:59,420 --> 00:06:02,120 multi-disciplinary groups and areas 147 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,285 represented throughout campus that very regularly, 148 00:06:05,285 --> 00:06:07,820 multiple times a week to talk about COVID or 149 00:06:07,820 --> 00:06:11,540 a response or problems or what do we need. 150 00:06:11,540 --> 00:06:13,190 And we've done that all along. 151 00:06:13,190 --> 00:06:17,015 And I think that in itself has impeccable in, 152 00:06:17,015 --> 00:06:19,610 shows a lot about the leadership and what we can 153 00:06:19,610 --> 00:06:23,000 do as one campus. It's amazing to me. 154 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,360 Anything that you wish you could go back and change in that first year and responding to it. 155 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,895 change in that first year and responding to it. 156 00:06:28,895 --> 00:06:32,615 Any any realisations now 157 00:06:32,615 --> 00:06:36,270 that I wish we had done that a little differently, 158 00:06:37,930 --> 00:06:41,615 I wish we would have known I guess. 159 00:06:41,615 --> 00:06:42,770 I don't know if this is going to 160 00:06:42,770 --> 00:06:43,910 answer your question Totally, 161 00:06:43,910 --> 00:06:45,260 But I wish we would have 162 00:06:45,260 --> 00:06:47,960 known this is a marathon, not a sprint. 163 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:52,985 I think it's been a really long haul for a lot of people. 164 00:06:52,985 --> 00:06:54,980 And knowing that we 165 00:06:54,980 --> 00:06:56,840 would have had to have the endurance to keep this 166 00:06:56,840 --> 00:06:58,460 going for years is 167 00:06:58,460 --> 00:07:01,740 something I wish we would have or could have known. 168 00:07:02,170 --> 00:07:04,460 Back then. 169 00:07:04,460 --> 00:07:08,180 I guess that's my biggest takeaway 170 00:07:08,180 --> 00:07:11,540 is it's definitely been a marathon and it's not over yet. 171 00:07:11,540 --> 00:07:12,545 It's not over. 172 00:07:12,545 --> 00:07:13,610 It's not over. 173 00:07:13,610 --> 00:07:15,470 Have you lost people? 174 00:07:15,470 --> 00:07:20,820 I don't mean to sickness but burnout. 175 00:07:20,950 --> 00:07:23,315 We have had some retirements. 176 00:07:23,315 --> 00:07:24,710 We've had to make some changes within 177 00:07:24,710 --> 00:07:26,630 our department partially because of COVID, 178 00:07:26,630 --> 00:07:28,610 partially because of other things. 179 00:07:28,610 --> 00:07:31,730 I definitely have medical staff that 180 00:07:31,730 --> 00:07:34,460 where full protective equipment 181 00:07:34,460 --> 00:07:39,980 and N95 masks or most of their day that are burned out. 182 00:07:39,980 --> 00:07:43,745 I don't I can't say I've lost anybody at this point. 183 00:07:43,745 --> 00:07:46,460 But it's something that's on the forefront of my mind as 184 00:07:46,460 --> 00:07:49,560 we keep the marathon going.