Registered Dental Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Registered Dental Assistant

POSITION SUMMARY:

Registered Dental Assistant is a specially trained health care worker providing direct support to the dentist, and may be delegated to perform intraoral procedures that do not require the professional skill and judgment of a dentist. Dental assistants may take the Certification Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board and earn the title of a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). Some state boards of dentistry register dental assistants (RDA) after completion of a state-administered examination.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES: 

1.Provide quality care for our patients according to current state or national dental practice act, OSHA, Indian Health Service (IHS), or American Dental Association guidelines by— 

1. Taking Panoramic, periapical, bitewing, occlusal and other X-rays while following radiation imaging safety guidelines;
2. Assist in room readiness including thorough disinfection of all applicable operatory surfaces according to current bloodborne pathogens standards;
3. Sterilizing and processing instruments and dental items according to state, national, or policy guidelines, including biological monitoring of autoclaves;
4. Assisting doctors during patient health history updates, patient examination, planning, treatment, and follow-up phases;
5. Assisting doctors or others chairside during any procedures with patients;
6. Assisting doctors or others by any means such as calling 911, applying CPR or utilizing AED during patient medical emergencies;
7. Assisting doctors or others by any means during OTHER emergencies such as fire, flood, earthquake or storm damage when reasonable;
8. Understand and use the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Hazard Communication with Safety Data Sheets and labeling of containers;
9. Assist in ordering supplies and other materials needed for the office;
10. Assist with other tasks as directed.
11. Follow Policy & Procedure, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) HIPAA, OSHA and TRIHCI Employee Handbook.
12. Participate in updating dental department Policy & Procedure and SOP.
13. Participate in general staff meetings, in-service, and trainings of the Health Center organization.
14. Participate in team meetings, peer review, quality assurance (QA), quality improvement (QI), customer satisfaction surveys, and other customer service or department enhancing activities.
15. Promote the Tule River Indian Health Center Dental department by every ethical means.
16. Promote and improve customer service to patients, team members, and guests.
17. Promote Third party revenue from patients, grants, or other sources.
18. Travel at times for acquiring continuing education or participation in community projects. 

2.Follow Policy & Procedure, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) HIPAA, OSHA and TRIHCI Employee Handbook.

3. Participate in updating dental department Policy & Procedure and SOP.

4. Participate in general staff meetings, in-service, and trainings of the Health Center organization.

5. Participate in team meetings, peer review, quality assurance (QA), quality improvement (QI), customer satisfaction surveys, and other customer service or department enhancing activities.

6. Promote the Tule River Indian Health Center Dental department by every ethical means.

7. Promote and improve customer service to patients, team members, and guests.

8. Promote Third party revenue from patients, grants, or other sources.

9. Travel at times for acquiring continuing education or participation in community projects.

10. Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

1. Improve and maintain knowledge, skills and abilities to accomplish all essential duties and responsibilities listed above.

1. X-ray certification/ self-improvement through class, seminar or reading.
2. Attend annual on-site bloodborne pathogens training, and attend infection control continuing education.
3. Attend CPR continuing education when needed.
4. Attend training for GHS (globally harmonized system) hazard communication.

2. Maintain essential dental office operations (including planning, organizing, scheduling patients, relationships with team dentists, understand third-party revenue generators such as insurance and medi-cal).

3. Create a comfortable “dental home” for patients of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

4. Meet or exceed the standard of care outlined by dental department Policy & Procedure, Standard Operating Procedures, IHS guidelines, HIPAA, OSHA, MSDS (material safety data sheet) Hazard Communication, and dental director directives.

5. Maintain efficient and effective computer software skills for Microsoft Office and DENTRIX office management.

6. Maintain strong work ethic in establishing and meeting personal goals and objectives in an ethical manner.

7. Relate in a positive manner to team members, other employees, patients and guests.

8. Be able to assist with medical emergencies in the dental office using 911, CPR, oxygen, the medical emergency kit and teamwork as directed.

9. Assist in handling of other emergencies if needed, such as fire, flood, natural disaster, poisoning, and rescue efforts with the medical department and/or other agencies.

10. Accept other responsibilities on a temporary basis from time to time as directed by team dentist or dental director.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE (ALL ARE REQUIRED)

1. High school diploma or equivalent from accredited and accepted school or entity.
2. Successful completion of an approved dental assisting program. Minimum educational standards include a program of approximately one academic year, or equivalent training from an acceptable foreign school.
3. Registered Dental Assisting (RDA) certificate from the Dental Board of California.
4. Maintain continuing dental education for successful state license renewal.
5. Current RDA license with endorsements for X-ray, coronal polish and sealants.
6. Current CPR certificate at the BLS (basic life support) level.

QUALIFICATIONS (ALL ARE REQUIRED)

1. Positive character references from professional, business, or if needed personal sources.
2. Pass pre-employment and random drug & alcohol tests.
3. Pass pre-employment physical.
4. Pass Background check.
5. Lawfully eligible to obtain work in the United States.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS (ALL ARE REQUIRED)

1. Diploma or equivalent from an accredited and accepted dental assisting school.
2. Current RDA license issued by the Dental Board of California with endorsements for X-ray, coronal polish, and sealants.
3. Possess a valid California Driver's License and be insurable with the Tule River Indian Health Center Inc. insurance agency throughout employment. 
4. Current CPR at the BCLS level. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND CONTINGENCIES

Experience equivalent to three (3) years practice in a similar capacity is preferred for this position.

TRIHCI maintains a drug- and alcohol-free workplace, and all offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a criminal background check, a post-offer drug test and physical, TB test, and verification of each candidate’s right to work in the United States.76

PHYSICAL WORK ENVIRONMENT: The description provided here is representative of those conditions in which the Registered Dental Assistant will be required to perform the essential functions of this position. As stated earlier, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

While performing the duties of this position, the Registered Dental Assistant is situated in a standard office environment at the Tule River Indian Health Center as well as in a vehicle to respond to medical emergencies within community; there is little exposure to variations in the weather or other similar elements. The Registered Dental Assistant will primarily be stationed at the Tule River Indian Health Center. Consequently, the Registered Dental Assistant must:

Must be able to perform the following tasks:

Walk, frequently, up to 10 hours per day; run, infrequently, 1-2 minutes per day; stand, frequently, up to 10 hours per day; sit, frequently, up to 8 hours per day; kneel, frequently, 10-15 times per day; bend, frequently, 10-15 times per day. 

1. Possess the mobility to work in a standard office setting (i.e. walk, stand, or sit for extended periods of time); 
2. Posses the ability to use standard office equipment to write, type, copy, fax, or perform other duties; 
3. Possess the strength to lift and carry supplies weighing up to 10 lbs repeatedly and up to 30 lbs intermittently;
4. Possess the visual acuity to read printed materials and a computer screen; 
5. Demonstrate hearing and speech capabilities that allow him/her to communicate in person and over the telephone as required.

The clinical setting at TRIHCI is categorized by OSHA as a Blood-borne Pathogen Category I facility. Consequently, there exists the potential for exposure to blood, body fluid/tissue, and infectious wastes. There also exists the potential for exposure to aerosols, chemicals, biologicals, toxicants, and irradiants found on-site.

Preference in hiring is given to qualified American Indians in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, US Code, Sections 472 & 473). Applicants claiming Indian Preference must submit Indian verification, certified by Tribe of affiliation or other acceptable documentation of Indian heritage.

DISCLAIMER:  This position description lists the major duties and requirements for the Registered Dental Assistant position as established by subject-matter experts and the Human Resources Manager at the time of this document’s creation. This position may require additional performance of duties and responsibilities beyond those outlined in this document, and thus may require additional sets of knowledge, skills, and abilities not fully articulated herein.