Dental Assistant - Full Time - Kohala

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under the supervision of Dentist. Provides assistance to dentist covering a full range of dental treatments. Participates in all community based dental projects and activities. Abides by HAR 79 Subchapter 7 Dental Auxiliaries allowable duties §16-79-69.1.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for the Dental Assistant. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Seats and drapes patients; adjusts chair.
• Lays out dental instruments and supplies.
• Hands instruments to dentist.
• Retract a patient's cheek, tongue, or other parts of tissues during a dental procedure.
• Place and remove a rubber dam.
• Conduct a mouth-mirror oral inspection, reporting observations to the supervising dentist.
• Remove debris as is normally created and accumulated during or after procedures by the dentist by the use of vacuum devices, compressed air, mouth washes, and water.
• Provide any assistance, including the placement of material in a patient's oral cavity in response to the specific direction of a licensed dentist who is actually performing a dental procedure on the patient.
• Removal of post-extraction dressings.
• Removal of sutures.
• Placement of matrix retainers for alloy and composite restorations after a dentist has prepared the cavity.
• Take impressions for study casts.
• Removal of excess cement after a dentist has placed a permanent or temporary inlay, crown, bridge, appliance, or orthodontic bands with hand instruments only.
• Place non-aerosol and non-caustic topical anesthetics.
• Complete toothbrush prophies for minors.
• Patient education in oral hygiene.
• Take, expose, and develop radiographs.
• Take intra-oral and extra-oral photographs
• Take and record blood pressure and vital signs
• Relate pre- and post-operative instructions and;
• Monitoring of nitrous oxide/oxygen unit.
• Creates and maintains recording of client files and statistics.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Assists with registration and data collection for QI and statistical reporting, processes appropriate documents for new clients including intake forms and exit interviews.
• Sterilize instruments and equipment.
• Maintain dental chair water bottles daily.
• Replace solid collector and shock waterline, once weekly
• Responsible for daily upkeep and general maintenance of dental equipment.
• Update SDS binder as needed.
• Maintains current dental logs.
• Refer clients to appropriate community or state resources, health agencies, social agencies, private and public health professionals and follow up to ensure services received.
• Records accurately findings dictated by dentists on dental charts.
• Provides education to individuals and/or groups on oral hygiene procedures.
• Participates in dental health projects involving dental health education, demonstration, and promotion.
• Assist with completing, filing, and follow up on applications or documentation for health or social services i.e. insurance applications.
• Encourages clients to share information pertaining to traditional practices they are using and documents in electronic dental record (EDR).
• Maintain dental and office supply inventory and replenish as necessary.
• Attend training as requested and participate in case review, program development, and implementation.
• Greets all patients and visitors in a prompt, courteous and helpful manner.
• Answer phones, schedules appointments according to type of procedure and duration of appointment and participates in registration and checkouts patients
• Update patient account information in HKH Electronic Record at every visit.
• Verifies patient insurance coverage eligibility at every scheduled appointment.
• Determine copay amount to be collected based on patient’s insurance plan prior to scheduled services.
• Reminder appointment calls according to HKH assignment.
• Maintains daily balancing of cash drawer and follows end of day cash close procedures.
• Ensures timely input of patient data into HKH Electronic Medical Records with consistency and accuracy.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and confidential working environment consistent with OSHA, HIPAA, and HKH standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned and accepts such responsibility.

Machines, Tools, Equipment and Work Aids

Must possess knowledge of dental equipment and operatory instruments and be familiar with dental procedures. Must be able to operate electronic (computerized) dental record and medical software, digital x-ray equipment, and standard office equipment.

Skills/Knowledge, Education, Training and Experience

Required: High school graduate or equivalent. Must possess extraordinary customer service skills. Must have excellent organizational skills and ability to multi-task. Must be able to use a computer, type and comprehend computer logic.

Preferred: Certified Dental Assistant credentials. Culturally sensitive to the needs of the Hawaiian community.

Position Environment

This position requires the ability to multitask in a supportive patient care role to a diverse population which may expose the medical assistant to communicable diseases, bodily fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinic environment. This position requires a full range of body motion, manual and finger dexterity and eye--hand coordination. Occasionally lifts and carries items weighing up to 50 lobs. Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range. Requires working under stressful conditions or working irregular hours.

Performance Requirements

• Courteous, honest and professional at all times.
• Able to communicate and relate well with physicians, clinical support staff and other HKH employees.
• Able to provide innovative input into the development of the clinic and its processes.
• Maintains appropriate licensure and certification including meeting and/or exceeding CME requirements.
• Efficient, organized and accurate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Working Conditions: Medical office environment. Multi-task oriented position including direct patient care may require sitting or standing for long periods. Some bending, stooping, and lifting (up to 50lbs). Must interact with physicians, patients and other office personnel. Must possess socio-economic and cultural sensitivity. May involve contact with angry, upset or ill persons. Will involve potential exposure to blood and body fluids and other hazardous substances. Must have visual acuity and manual dexterity to assist with procedures, perform and interpret lab results, and interface with computer. Must have auditory acuity to handle phone calls and extensive patient interaction.

Willing to work in mobile setting. Above average ability to relate to the local culture and understand local slang. Excellent listening and teaching skills for all age groups.

Work Schedule: This is a non-exempt position. The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria considered necessary to successfully perform the job.

Confidentiality: As an employee of Hamakua-Kohala Health Clinic, you are bound by principles of medical ethics. You have both a legal and moral obligation to protect the privacy of our patients. In the course of your work, you will have access to confidential information regarding patients, and/or the practices’ confidential business. It is essential that you refrain from any discussions regarding personal information about a patient, a patient’s condition, a patient’s finances, proprietary company information, personnel salaries, and/or the practices’ confidential business with any third person. This includes, but is not limited to, other employees, your spouse, family or friends. CONFIDENTIALITY IS SO IMPORTANT THAT ANY BREACH OF THIS POLICY WILL BE CONSIDERED GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION. Review and signature of the Agreement is a condition of employment.