Dental Hygienist - New Port Richey, United States - Department Of Veterans Affairs

Description

Summary

Dental Hygienist position is located at New Port Richey VA clinic, New Port Richey, FL. Performing direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist, and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members only for the most complex patients.

Duties

Customer Service:

• Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers, and the public.
• Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery.

Patient Care:

• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
• Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently.
• Provides routine oral prophylactic care to include application of fluoride solutions.
• Provides gross debridement, deep scaling, and root planning procedures.
• Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable.
• Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed.
• Applies desensitizing and sealant materials.
• Makes impressions for fluoride carrier trays.
• Administers topical anesthetic agents.
• Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols.

Patient Education:

• Provides patient education appropriate to the Veteran's needs and oral condition.
• Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatients, outpatients, and care givers.

Dental Imaging:

• Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented, and exposed.
• Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized.

Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization:

• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory.
• Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards
• Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care.
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images.

Clerical Functions:

• Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments.
• Charts findings, treatment plans, and treatment provided in patient records.

Information Management:

• Maintains patient confidentiality per the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) with written and verbal information.
• Follows computer security regulations.

Patient Safety:

• Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position.)
• Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients.
• Participates in patient identification and time out per The Joint Commission (TJC) requirements.
• Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress.

Employee Education:

• Complies with Employee Education requirements.
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions.
• Prepares and presents monthly Safety Training to Dental Service Staff.

Customer Services:

• Relationships with management, co-workers, patients, and the general public are consistently courteous, respectful, and cooperative in nature.
• Employee will display a cooperative attitude and will effectively work together to implement the organization's mission and goals.
• Employee will ensure productivity is maintained at the established level.

Work Schedule: 4 days, 10 hour tours

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required