Dental Hygienist - Walla Walla, United States - Department Of Veterans Affairs

Description

Summary

Employees at this level serve as staff dental hygienists at the full performance level. It is expected that they provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision from a dentist.

Duties

Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: patient medical assessment (e.g. medical/dental history, social history, vital signs, full periodontal assessment and charting), disease and treatment management recommendations, denture care, scaling and root planing, radiographs/image interpretation, patient education (e.g. post procedure, tobacco cessation, caries and perio-disease prevention), behavior management, management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors), instrument sharpening, inter-service communication.

FUNCTIONS:

Customer Service/Veteran Centered Care

• Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public
• Aids customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery - Delivers care that reflects the Veteran's and the family's personal goals, personal preferences, and freedom of choice

• Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently
• Assesses patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities - Assesses the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health

• Provides patient education appropriate to the Veteran's needs and oral condition
• Explains hygiene procedures, indications, complications and expected outcomes to individual patient and caregiver
• Prepares and provides education on periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene practices, parafunctional habits, and effect of illness, addictions, medications and tobacco on the oral cavity

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

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

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

• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information
• Follows computer security regulations

• Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position)
• Modifies care based patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities
• Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients
• Participates in patient identification and time out per TJC requirements
• Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress

• Complies with Employee Education requirements
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions