EDUCATION
THE EDUCATION RECESSION Author: Magdalina Atanassova, Marcom & Brand Manager, Kenes Group Coronavirus has not only affected millions of people on a
EDUCATION IN TIMES OF CRISIS
personal level, it has also choked businesses. Travel, tourism,
Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are today being fully
aviation, hospitality and many more industries have felt that
mobilised to support their hospitals, no matter their speciality.
noose the most. Billions of pounds in revenue have been
Multiple governments reacted quickly when the virus moved
lost and companies are struggling to keep afloat. Economists
to Europe and orders were placed for doctors not to travel
believe that Europe, and the global economy, is slowly but
to events abroad. It is safe to assume that, even if travel and
surely, heading towards a recession.
borders remained open as usual, medical conferences would still be affected because of this measure.
But what about science and education? If we follow Maslow’s Pyramid of Needs, when the first levels are not satisfied,
So, what will happen to continuous medical education? As
namely our physiological and safety needs, we are
the focus drastically shifts towards COVID-19, all countries
unable to focus on our needs for love and
are preparing for its
belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation.
impact. In these
And COVID-19 has certainly made us
moments of
feel unsafe. For many, these extreme
preparation, there
times will mean focussing on the
is a great deal of
immediate threat with less focus
live education
on our other needs.
that is needed regarding
At Kenes Group, we work
preventative
with tens of thousands
measures, such
of medical doctors
as educating HCPs
that come to our
unused to working
events and we
in critical care/ICU units who are suddenly involved and who
support the management of various medical associations with
have to be briefed on the proper techniques for working in
as many members again. As a result, we wondered – how will
such circumstances. It is vital to teach fast and effective proce-
science and education be affected in the long term due to the
dures such as intubations and how to wear personal protec-
COVID-19 pandemic? Here are our two cents.
tive equipment; the need for live simulations and training is greater than ever.
20
| June 2020
