Dental Assistant III

Description

A. Dental assisting services are provided in accordance with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) Standards of Practice (SOP) Manual, Tennessee Practice Act, clinical check list and protocols to target populations as measured daily by the observation of the dentist during the performance cycle review period.

Behavior Action Steps
1. Employee will assemble necessary dental supplies and instruments prior to dental patient seating and treatment as observed by the supervising dentist.
2. Employee will follow direction of the dentist during dental procedures using 4-handed dental technique as observed by the supervising dentist.
3. Employee will disinfect and sterilize instruments and operatory after every dental patient treatment as observed by the supervising dentist.
4. Employee will apply Dental Assistant's scope of certification to every patient encounter as observed by the supervising dentist.
5. Employee will follow guidelines and standards as established by the SOP Manual, the TDH Exposure Control Manual, TDH Hazard Communication Manual, and the Tennessee Practice Act as observed by the supervising dentist and with the documentation of the Quality Improvement (QI) standards and Quality Assurance (QA) report findings.

B. The Dental Assistant will manage and maintain the autoclave/spore testing log, the dental unit waterline log, air remediation, and expired materials, to meet QI & QA audit standards, measured biannually during the performance cycle review period.

Behavior Action Steps
1. Employee will test the autoclave using biological indicators (aka "spore testing") on a weekly basis and record outcome in logbook.
2. Employee will maintain dental unit waterlines and perform water monitoring every 6 months to confirm effectiveness at <500 CFU and record treatment in logbook.
3. Employee will monitor current dental inventory for expiration on a quarterly basis and document this in accordance with regional protocol. Maintain adequate dental inventory to insure availability of dental supplies. Alert dentist and/or regional dental director if problems obtaining supplies arises.
4. Employee will prepare a quarterly dental supply order based on dental inventory needs and submit to supervising dentist for review and approval in accordance with regional protocol.
5. Employee will provide maintenance per manufacturer guidance on dental equipment such as autoclave, air remediation unit, curing light, and dental hand pieces.

C. On a daily basis for the evaluation period, employee maintains patient records, schedules, and recall systems and works with local staff to promote patient productivity as measured by monthly productivity reports.

Behavior Action Steps
1. Dental assistant has appropriate health record and other pertinent records available for the dentist prior to seating the patient, charts dental exams, files x-rays, and assures charts are returned to the appropriate local health department personnel as observed by supervising dentist.
2. Proactively collaborate with the local management team to establish and/or modify clinic appointment profiles most conducive to provide dental care to as many patients per workday as feasible.
3. Maximize delivery of appropriate and reasonable dental services to each patient served as time and opportunity allows (examples include dental sealant placement, coronal polishing).
4. Proactively collaborate with the local management team to address trending issues with clinic flow or support, offering timely and constructive suggestions for resolution when working in a local county health department.

D. Function as a contributing member of the County Health Department local management team during the period, by providing service delivery and support to the dental team which ensures the accomplishment of productivity goals. This will be measured by the Regional Dental Director and the County Director's direct observation of clinical skills, Evaluation of PTBMIS queries/reports, state generated RVU and provider productivity reports, fluoride varnish reports and participation in scheduled staff meetings.


Behavior Action Steps
1. Manages priorities and individual efficiency to assist in meeting recommendations for encounters and RVUS goals.
2. Identifies a professional development project or activity by the first the interim, provides update by second interim, and completed by annual.
3. Openly and respectfully accepts coaching and direction from local and regional management.
4. Will always take immediate, decisive, and appropriate action at the earliest opportunity to notify supervisor concerning clinical issues.


E. Makes customer's (both internal and external) needs a primary focus. Re-adjusts priorities to respond to urgent customer demands. Quickly and effectively solves customer problems. Presents cheerful and positive manner with both internal and external customers and seeks to gain feedback by following up.

(Met or Not Met)

Skilled Behavior 1: Customer Focus
With external and internal customers strives to meet expectation and requirements.
Skilled Behavior 2: Customer Focus
Gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services.
Skilled Behavior 3: Customer Focus
Active listening skills are demonstrated with customers.
Skilled Behavior 4: Customer Focus
Establishes and maintains an effective relationship with both, external and internal customers, hence gains their trust and respect.
Skilled Behavior 5: Customer Focus
Will response to all customer's complaints, criticisms and feedback with appropriate actions.


Instruments and Equipment Used:
All office equipment i.e., but not limited to computer, fax machine, scanner, telephone, calculator, autoclave, radiographic machines, dental instruments including handpieces and standard dental equipment.

Requirements

Is currently registered as a Dental Assistant within the State of Tennessee and has the following certifications: radiology, coronal polishing, nitrous oxide, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and sealant application.