Job Title: Dental Assistant

Status / Time: Full-Time
Reports to: Chief Operations Officer
Position Type: Permanent
FLSA Classification: Hourly, Non-Exempt
Starting Pay Range: $16 ~ $19 / hour depending on experience

Job Description & Overview:
Ko‘olauloa Health Center (KHC) is committed to ensuring the delivery of quality care through continuous evidence-based improvements. The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) standards, a nationally recognized evidence-based model for quality improvement and quality care implemented at KHC. All employees are a part of the PCMH and are required to actively participate in quality initiatives, including training and evaluation projects. Employees are expected to demonstrate and promote team-based, and patient centered interactions with other staff members and patients/members/clients. Consistent with that, the role of the Dental Assistant is to perform patient care activities by performing routine clinical and administrative tasks under the direction of the dentist and Chief Operations Officer (COO) in an efficient, effective, safe, and quality-oriented manner according to established policies and protocols.

Position Summary:
Primarily responsible for assisting the dentist in the clinical treatment of patients. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Principle Job Duties/Essential Functions

Operational Management:

• Oversee the day-to-day clinical operations and ensure efficient use of resources.

• Collaborate with other senior leaders to align clinical goals with organizational objectives.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including HRSA requirements for Federally Qualified Health Centers.

Laboratory:

• Takes alginate impressions on patients.

• Pours up models.

• Prepares cases for lab pickup/delivery.

• Keeps area clean.

Patient Management:

• Greets patients when they sign in and monitors arrival time then transitions patient to dentist.

• Seats patients and executes proper setup for procedures.

• Shows empathy through care and concern for patients.

• Ensures that patient is not unattended in the chair unless necessary.

• Assist the dentist by anticipating the needs of dentist at all times during procedures.

• Charts all patients and record date, service rendered, and any charges.

• Escorts patients from the treatment room and if necessary, transitions patient to Front Office.

• Completes patient’s chart indicating procedure done at the present and what procedure is to be completed at the next visit if applicable.

• Performs clinical procedures as delegated by the dentist.

• Gives patient instruction and demonstrates when necessary if directed by the dentist.

• Monitors patient flow.

• Updates patient’s health history and patient information each visit.

• Notifies Front Office if a patient should be called in the evening after a difficult appointment.

• Performs other tasks as assigned by the dentist or management.

Personal Protective Items:

• Utilizes antiseptic hand cleaner and clean paper towels.

• Ensures the availability and use of protective wear for employees: eye protection, face masks, gloves, gowns and other protective clothing.

• Notifies COO of inventory shortage (gowns, gloves, masks)

• Uses heavy utility gloves when rinsing, wrapping, and loading cassettes/instruments for sterilization.

Instruments and Equipment:

• Discards all disposable items for each visit.

• Assembles soiled instruments and places them in sterilization area.

• Cleans treatment room surfaces with disinfectant solution.

• Pre-soaks soiled instruments in a disinfectant.

• Maintains hazardous chemical list (MSDS binder).

• Places cassettes into washer and wrap cassettes for sterilization.

• Sorts and package instruments by tray for sterilization.

• Loads, activates, and vents the sterilization unit according to the manufacturer’s directions.

• Stores instruments and trays in appropriate places.

Sterilization Area:

• Mixes required cleaning solutions and keep them fresh.

• Cleans ultrasonic units and autoclaves.

• Uses a spore test once a month for sterilizer.

• Keeps sterilization area clean and neat at all times.

• Maintains a supply inventory for infection control.

• Submits supply orders as necessary to the various vendors.

• Follows health center guidelines on room sterilization for COVID-19.

Waste Management:

• Discards needles in puncture-resistant, leak-proof, labeled containers.

• Decontaminates regulated waste and place in leak-proof, puncture-resistant containers (amalgam/mercury waste).

• Applies warning labels to regulated waste.

Administration:

• Keeps current sterilization logs and file spore test results.

• Ability to read and comprehend instructions, company policies and procedures, and training materials.

• Ability to follow instructions.

• Ability to use KHC’s dental and electronic health record systems.

Office Participation:

• Be an active participant in staff meetings.

• Promote team concept by interacting with others in the office.

Minimum Qualifications:
Prior training and experience in dental practice or certification from a recognized or accredited school.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger; handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

Mental Demands:
Attention to detail, alertness, problem solving skills, tolerance to stress and exercising sound judgement, mathematical ability, scientific logic, abstract thinking, and intuitive sense. Some other mental demands may include, but is not limited to:

• Able to set priorities.

• Able to work with multiple distractions and interruptions.

• Work effectively with a diverse workforce and patient base.

Communication Demands:

• Ability to speak, read, and write in English.

• Able to communicate clearly and effectively with different cultures.

• Frequent talking to co-workers, patients, providers, and families on the telephone and in-person.

• Ability to give and receive training instructions.

• Ability to work with difficult patients, including the mentally ill, alcohol and substance users, and homeless individuals.

• Good communication skills.

Knowledge/Skills:
At least one year’s experience in dental practice. Experience using Dentrix Enterprise dental medical record is preferred.

Working Conditions:
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.  Employee is aware of risks involving COVID-19 or other contaminants.

Equipment Use:
This job operates in a professional dental office environment. This role routinely uses standard chairside dental equipment as well as standard office equipment.

Position Type/Expected Hours:
This is a full-time position, and the hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  or a 4-10 hour schedule depending on the Center’s needs. Position may require taking PTO or Leave Without Pay when the dentist is on PTO for an extended period of time greater than two days unless the COO approves continued work necessary to upkeep the Dental Department.

Certificates, Clearance:

• Dental Assisting Certificate is preferred.

• Tuberculosis clearance is required.

• Proof of vaccination or serology needed for immunizations deemed required by the health center.

ADA Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation. It also mandates the establishment of TDD/telephone relay services.

EEO Statement: Ko‘olauloa Health Center believes that all applicants and employees are entitled to equal employment opportunities and maintains a policy of non-discrimination with respect to religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, marital status, physical or mental disability, or any other legally protected class in accordance with applicable law, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists.

Ko‘olauloa Health Center will comply with all phases of employment including, but not limited to, hiring practices, transfers, promotions, benefits, discipline, and discharge.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel as qualified.

Ko‘olauloa Health Center is a drug-free and alcohol-free workplace.