Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant36-40 hours, benefits-eligibleMon – Fri, 8-5 or 9-6, flexible lunch hourFLSA Non-exempt - Successful candidate must pass a criminal background check

• Willing to train a dependable person who brings motivation to succeed, a strong work ethic, maturity, and a sense of responsibility and commitment to the table
• Starting wage $16.00 / hour or more for higher qualified individuals
• Candidate review begins 10/25/2024 - position open until filled

Position Summary:Under the general direction and supervision of the Dental Operations Coordinator, this position prepares patients for dental examination and procedures.  Assists in providing patient care within the appropriate scope of practice to a diverse patient population. Minimum Qualifications:

• Education:  High School diploma or equivalent required; graduation or completion of a dental assisting program preferred
• License/Certification:  Must obtain current BLS certification at the earliest opportunity if not held at the time of hire, must pass RHS test within 6 months of hire if not held at the time of hire
• Experience: One-year prior experience as a dental or medical assistant preferred 

Job Requirements:

• Must have the highest standards for attendance and punctuality 
• Must embrace teamwork and be willing to help others voluntarily
• Uses the appropriate chain of command to solve problems
• The ability to carry out functions and core competencies of a Dental Assistant
• The ability to become proficient in the operation of a computer system and applicable software programs (i.e. Office 365, etc.)
• The ability to become proficient in the use of computerized imaging and electronic dental record program
• The ability to communicate effectively with patients and staff
• Possess and apply the skills necessary to effectively treat patients of all age groups, regardless of the special needs of the patient
• Perform duties in a manner that is both professional and compassionate
• Apply knowledge in a manner that allows the needs of each provider and therefore each patient to be met

 Essential Functions, Roles, and Responsibilities

• Assists practitioners in performing procedures
• Maintain medical records
• Explain technical medical information to patients
• Performs initial clinical interview and processing of patients that include:
• Takes description of the chief complaint or reason for the visit
• Review patient medical history and make any appropriate changes
• Assesses for and identifies abnormal patient conditions and immediately reports them to the clinician
• Assists chair side independently and provides dental care to patients across the lifespan
• Accurately and consistently understands and communicates dental terminology while relaying information to co-workers, patients, and health records
• Demonstrates skill in computer operations and dental software
• Keeps accurate records of dental office inventory and orders supplies as necessary
• Performs operatory set-up and clean-up and dental instrument sterilization as outlined by infection control guidelines provided by OSHA
• Maintains dental equipment such as handpieces, operatories and evacuation units, radiographic equipment, and sterilization units according to manufacturer’s guidelines. 
• Demonstrates the ability to deal courteously and effectively with patients displaying a calm and caring demeanor while remaining professional
• Ability to deal with stressful situations and high volumes of workload while displaying a sound understanding of prioritization and organization
• Backs up dental check-in, dental check-out, and/or dental scheduling as necessary
• Complies with dental office and corporation policy and procedures consistently in all aspects of employment
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload
• Must report to work on time and as scheduled
• Other duties as assigned

 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Competent in dealing with racially, ethnically, and economically diverse populations
• Competent in the use of computers and learning new technology
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills
• Ability to calm patients who may be fearful or nervous
• Ability to work independently and as a team member

 Legal Concepts:

• Practices with the scope of education, training, and personal capabilities
• Maintains confidentiality
• Follows federal, state, and local legal guidelines; follows license criteria when licensure applies
• Maintains HIPAA & OSHA compliance
• Reports any evidence of abuse or neglect to the provider or appropriate official

Supervision: This position has no supervisory responsibilities Immediate Supervisor:  Dental Operations Coordinator; in their absence, designee Physical Requirements / Working Conditions:    

• Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
• Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over some time without being distracted.
• Time Sharing — The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).

The position is based in the Butte; however, position responsibilities may require travel to Dillon on rare occasions. A valid driver’s license, proof of auto insurance, and registration are required for use of the company car.

General office/clinic conditions are pleasant; good, clean working conditions where accident and hazards are negligible; requires short periods of moderate lifting, pushing, or pulling objects up to twenty pounds; requires the ability to occasionally lift and transfer heavy objects.  
OSHA Classification I:  Normal work routine involves potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood and/or body fluids; use of appropriate protective measures is required.
COVID-19 Essential Roles and ResponsibilitiesTo maintain the best possible conditions in the dental clinic for both coworkers and patients, added responsibilities will include:

• Adhering to PPE and laundering responsibilities and protocols
• Adhering to sanitization protocols properly without falling behind with patient responsibilities
• Inventory at the end of each day
•  Keeping track of aerosol-producing rooms and following established and necessary protocols
• Taking patient’s temperature once they are seated in the dental chair
• Assuring all patients complete a pre-procedural rinse before being seated

About Southwest Montana Community Health Center:

Southwest Montana Community Health Center is a mission-driven, non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). FQHCs are community-based healthcare providers that receive funding from the Federal government to provide comprehensive primary care services in underserved areas. FQHCs provide care to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay, and offer a sliding fee discount based on income. FQHCs must meet certain requirements to receive funding, such as providing services to medically underserved areas or populations, offering a comprehensive set of primary care services, and having a governing board that includes patients. Southwest Montana Community Health Center is a recognized National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH). PCMH designation is gained by meeting certain standards set by the NCQA. These standards include providing comprehensive, coordinated care, using evidence-based practices, and engaging patients in their care. Community health centers that receive PCMH designation are recognized for providing high-quality, patient-centered care that improves health outcomes and reduces costs. PCMH is our model of primary care that emphasizes care coordination, communication, and patient engagement to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes. The PCMH model encourages providers to work as a team to coordinate and manage care for patients, provide timely access to care, and use evidence-based practices to improve outcomes. The PCMH model also emphasizes the importance of patient engagement, providing patients with the tools and resources they need to take an active role in their own health care. We opened our doors in 1986 under the name Butte-Silver Bow Primary Healthcare Clinic Inc. Our main clinic is in Butte, Montana, and we have locations in Dillon and Anaconda, Montana. We offer medical, dental, behavioral health, care management, pharmacy, and clinical pharmacy services to everyone. We accept most insurances and private-pay clients, as well as uninsured or underinsured clients. Our passion is to ensure that healthcare remains accessible and affordable to everyone. Our clinics care for more than 13,000 patients annually and employs more than 150 people in our various locations.

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