Lead Dental Assistant - Meridian (1.0 FTE)

Lead Dental Assistant - Meridian

The Dental Assistant, Lead is a vital team member and provides chair side support to the Dentist and/or Dental Hygienist for scheduled procedures. Dental Assistants are responsible for the preparation and maintenance of dental instruments and equipment needed for procedures in support of patient treatment. Dental Assistants work in partnership and joint accountability with other team members to achieve Neighborcare Health's Mission, Guiding Principles, Service Commitments, and Goals.

Health, Wellness & Retirement Benefits:

• Medical, dental & vision insurance
• Paid time off & paid holidays
• Retirement with contribution match
• Life & AD&D, pet insurance
• Employee assistance program, & more!

Compensation:

• The target wage range for the position is $27.08 per hour to $34.04 per hour, plus the $2.00 Lead Premium added to the hourly rate.
• Final offers are individually based on various factors, including skill set, years of experience, location, qualifications, work schedule and other job-related reasons.

Union: SEIU Healthcare 1199NW

In this position you will:

• Direct Patient Care
• Provide chair side assistance by preparing operatory, including cleaning, disinfection, setting up instruments, materials, and appropriate anesthetic for scheduled procedures; including but not limited to, restorative work, surgical extractions, basic endodontics, scaling and root planning, pediatrics, and removable prosthodontics.
• Interview patient to determine reason for visit and collects patient's vital signs, e.g., blood pressure.
• Place sealants, perform fluoride treatments, coronal polish, and oral hygiene instruction.
• Take digital x-rays.
• Take intraoral photos and digital scans.
• Take and pour impressions.
• Fabricate provisional crowns.
• Mix materials, place rubber dams, matrices, and wedges.
• Properly pass instruments while maintaining proper aseptic techniques and appropriate safety standards.
• Anticipate and appropriately respond to patient's needs under dentist's supervision.
• Indirect Patient Care
• Perform duties and responsibilities with excellence, enthusiasm, great service orientation demonstrating courteous behaviors and mannerisms, and by anticipating dental provider's needs.
• Perform routine equipment maintenance, as assigned by supervisor and/or Lead.
• Review patient charts prior to patient treatment.
• Prepare the clinic for next day's work schedule and patient appointments.
• Communicate with dental provider(s) about daily schedules to optimize patient experience.
• Participate in team huddles, providing patient by patient insights, and help anticipate patient needs and/or care gaps.
• Schedule appointments for patients in the EHR, as needed.
• Call patients regarding care needs and document accurately and appropriately in EDR, as directed.
• Participate in back-office dental meetings, huddles, and staff meetings.
• Maintain ethical standards and timely reporting of safety events.

Dental Assistant, Lead – Primary Responsibilities:

• Support patient de-escalation and service recovery using trauma-informed approaches.
• Support site management of lab cases with Regional Operations Manager.
• Support site management of electronic dental referrals process with Regional Operations Manager.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and orientation of new and current DAs in partnership with Supervisor.
• Support feedback to Regional Operations Manager and help identify training gaps or workflow issues.
• Support implementation and maintenance of standardized workflows for all back-office dental operations in partnership with Regional Operations Manager, ensuring alignment with organizational standards and regulatory requirements.
• Facilitate site clinical equipment maintenance in partnership with site leaders and Regional Operations Managers.
• Facilitate routine clinic tasks such as stocking, inventory, transporting equipment, and ordering supplies with Regional Operations Managers.
• Champion site-level infection prevention compliance by ensuring timely review, follow-up, and completion of site sterilization tracking and quality control reporting.
• Champion site process improvement initiatives. Help update training materials or knowledge guides.
• Support back-office dental meetings, huddles, and staff meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Regional Operations Manager and/or Site Leadership.

Required Skills:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced and complex health care environment.
• Ability to meet and comply with HIPAA/Confidentiality policies and procedures and to handle confidential and sensitive patient and staff information.
• Knowledge and adherence of asepsis, universal precautions, and sterilization processes.
• Knowledge and understanding of dental terminology, instruments, and dental procedures.
• Ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals of varying ethnicities, socio-economic levels, cultures and sexual orientations.
• Demonstrates the ability to conduct discussions of a sensitive nature with staff and patients.
• Ability to build relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Ability to develop collaborative working relationships that foster a positive working environment with an emphasis on teamwork.
• Demonstrate effective time management skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Proficient with computers and the use of email and electronic medical and dental records.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• A current Washington State Dept. of Health Dental Assistant license
• BLS Certification
• Minimum of 280 hours chairside dental assisting experience

Preferred Requirements:

• Completion of accredited Dental Assistant program
• 1 year of dental assisting experience

About Neighborcare Health: Since 1968, Neighborcare Health has been removing barriers to health care for our neighbors. We believe everyone deserves a place to call their health care home, where a team of medical, dental and mental health professionals work in collaboration with each patient to develop a personal health improvement plan.

We are one of the largest providers of primary medical, dental and behavioral health care services in the Seattle area serving low-income and uninsured families and individuals, seniors on fixed incomes, immigrants, and people experiencing homelessness. Each year we care for nearly 60,000 patients at our nearly 30 non-profit medical, dental and school-based clinics. We ask everyone to pay what they can, but no one is turned away due to inability to pay.

Our clinics are located in neighborhoods where health disparities are the greatest, and our care teams, who speak over 55 languages and dialects, are as diverse as our patients. No matter who you are, or where you come from, regardless of your insurance, income or immigration status, you are welcome at Neighborcare Health.