Healthcare Dental Hygienist

Duration: 6+ Months temp/temp to hire

Team members are expected uphold the health center mission by assuring that patients receive health care that is competent, caring, and meets with a high degree of satisfaction. In addition, staff must support FPCN's commitment to the creation of a trauma-informed system of care that continually recognizes and responds to the impact of traumatic stress on all those who have contact with the organization, including children, adults, families, caregivers, and staff.

1. Assesses dental conditions and risk with patient screening procedures which includes medical history review and dental charting in the EHR.
2. Performs routine treatment procedures, such as cleaning, polishing, x-rays, application of sealants, fluorides and varnishes, and related procedures.
3. Develops and implements individualized dental care plans for patients; performs patient education and risk protocols, discharge planning, and patient/family teaching under the supervision of a dentist.
4. Assist with insurance preauthorization process for periodontal scaling and root planning to assure follow-up on all denials and scheduling for all approved cases.
5. Provides chair-side assistance to dentist in the performance of special tests, procedures, and complex treatments.
6. Assists in the maintenance of all Dental Department areas in compliance with Dental Department directives and policies as well as center policies and procedures relative to infection control, exposure control and safety issues.
7. Manage the continuing care recall system.
8. Assist with managing hygiene inventory and supplies.
9. Ensure use of downtime to include clean, stocked operatories; routinely clean and stock operatory.
10. Documents dental history, reports pertinent observations, and other relevant patient information in the EHR. Documents lab procedures and ensures follow up on result.
11. Performs patient triage and initiates patient care as appropriate for walk-in patient.
12. Performs routine cleaning and maintenance of dental equipment in assigned operatories and for the assigned equipment. Regularly and thoroughly performs maintenance of assigned equipment.
13. Assumes responsibility for the upkeep of the dental operatory and equipment.
14. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

1. Performs oral prophylaxis, scaling, oral hygiene instruction, fluoride treatments in the MDI treatment room.
2. Screens and takes radiographs for emergency patients for screening and timely referral to dental department.
3. Coordinates referral to the Dental Department for Comprehensive Evaluation and Treatment of patients after being seen for MDI hygiene visits.
4. Obtains baseline overall health and oral hygiene assessment data based upon accepted principles of oral hygiene and periodontal care; enter into the EDR.
5. Records patient-hygienist transactions and data acquired as they occur in the patient's electronic dental record so that the dental record accurately and completely reflects the nature of the encounter, the condition of the patient and the care or treatment provided.
6. Posts all treatments provided at the end of the encounter for billing purposes.
7. Administers local anesthesia when needed for treatment under State Anesthesia Licensure.
8. Integrates and communicates appropriate patient oral health and hygiene care with other health care professionals involved in the patient's health care management.
9. Participates in the Continuous Quality Improvement Program of the Dental Department of the center.
10. Performs independent procedures as delegated and directed by the Clinical Director within state regulations and law as well as Dental Department protocol and directives.
11. Assists in the maintenance of all Dental Department areas in compliance with Dental Department directives and policies as well as center policies and procedures relative to infection control, exposure control and safety issues.
12. Work with IT, MDI staff to collect data, measure and evaluate the impact and outcomes of the integration effort.

Qualifications

Prolonged sitting or standing is required. Those physical movements and the degree of mobility, manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination normally associated with the practice of modern oral hygiene will be performed on a repetitive basis. Proficiency in the use of the telephone, computer, electronic dental record and business machines is required.

1. Uncomplicated initial oral hygiene and recall hygiene visits
2. Scaling and Root planning visits
3. Fluoride applications and screening in the office.
4. Emergency patient screening and radiographs