DENTAL ASSISTANT

SIHB Core Competencies

Core Competencies are foundational commitments and skills that all SIHB staff are expected to develop. These competencies define common measures for performance that are applied to every role in the organization.

• Commitment to Indigenous and Organizational Values: Everything we do at SIHB is centered on Traditional Indian Medicine. It is our responsibility to maintain cultural integrity in all that we do.
• Accountability: All employees of SIHB effectively manage their own work and the work of their teams. We take ownership of our actions and decisions. We all strive to deliver the highest quality work and care, while respecting our teammates and relatives.
• Collaboration: SIHB is a team-oriented organization. As team members, we share the responsibility of working toward a common purpose. We collaborate with our colleagues across the organization to deliver the highest quality of care and results in alignment with our mission, vision, values and Theory of Change.
• Communication: We practice effective and clear communication with staff, relatives, teams and community. We demonstrate empathy among each other and with those we serve, and transparency in our decision making.
• Customer Service Orientation: All employees of SIHB recognize the needs of the diverse community we serve. We put the needs of our relatives first by delivering the highest quality, professional, responsive, and innovative care. Our relatives come first and deserve the best.

Position Summary:

The Dental Assistant provides direct and indirect support to dental providers, including dentists and dental hygienists, to improve the efficiency of the dental team. Duties are consistent with the scope for dental assistants as specified in the Washington State Regulations (WAC 246-817-520).

Organizational Structure/Reporting Relationships: This position reports to the Lead Dentist and is a member of the Dental team. This position has no direct reports.

Organizational Responsibilities

• Hold Indigenous values and practices with respect and integrity
• Hold yourself accountable to the highest standard by being resourceful, innovative, creative, and solutions-oriented
• Actively participate in organizational activities with the understanding that success is achieved through teamwork.
• Recognize that communication is central to the organization's success and actively champion your words and actions to maintain respect for others, encourage constructive feedback, be open to share laughter and acknowledge differences in skills and opinions, all while keeping others' best intentions in mind.
• At SIHB, we refer to our customers as Relatives. Our Relatives come first and deserve the best. Serve the needs of our Relatives first by delivering the highest quality, professional, responsive and innovative care.

Job Responsibilities

• Assist with culturally attuned services at the International District Clinic and Mobile Dental Clinic.
• Comply with federal and state guidelines, internal dental policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements, including those related to reducing the spread of COVID-19.
• Punctual, reliable, and flexible when providing patient care. On time for scheduled shift and able to work with a variety of dentists, hygienists, and other dental providers.
• Communication is courteous and maintains professional communication with team members and patients. Keeps dental providers informed of patient location and status. Works as a member of a team and offers assistance to others and readily orients new and temporary staff. Completes non-patient tasks during slow work hours.
• Chair side four handed dentistry; knowledge of and proficiency with dental supportive services that are performed by a Dental Assistant.
• Assisting with pre-authorization laboratory work. This includes but not limited to chairside assistance, external and internal agency follow-up, patient follow up, and receiving/organizing models and lab products.
• Sterilizing, cleaning and maintaining instruments and equipment for all services provided at the dental clinic (e.g. exams, hygiene, and procedures). Maintain current knowledge of OSHA infection control regulations. Ensures operatories and dental spaces are clean, well-stocked and functioning. Alerts supervisor appropriately if maintenance or repairs are necessary.
• Takes radiographs. Maintains knowledge of dental radiograph techniques and principles.
• Assists with supervision and instruction of dental students and temporary Dental Assistants.
• Documents patient and procedural information in electronic health record.
• Participates in continuous dental quality improvement activities, which may include monitoring and evaluation functions.
• Participates in dental outreach. This may include but not limited to community outreach, outreach to internal programs and distribution of dental services and education materials to internal and external programs.
• Actively participate in internal quality improvement teams and work with members proactively to drive quality improvement initiatives.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required:

• High school diploma/GED.
• Either 2+ years' experience working as a full-time dental assistant or completion of formal training as a Dental Assistant at an accredited school.
• Must be a registered Dental Assistant in WA State.
• Must maintain CPR/First Aid certification.
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Strong interpersonal skills

Preferred:

• Experience working with American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
• Familiarity with the health and social issues facing the American Indian/ Alaska Native population and a desire to serve this population.
• Experience in working with an electronic health record preferred.
• Experience working with underserved populations preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication/documentation skills
• Strong computer skills

Work Environment: SIHB is staffed Monday through Friday from 7am-6pm, with every other Saturday for Pediatric Clinic. Dental clinical hours are 8am - 5pm with a 1-hour lunch break.

Dental assistants work 4 days in 10-hour shifts per week (4x10s). Shifts will be primarily at the International District Clinic and additional shifts on the mobile dental van.

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR BENEFITS PACKAGE, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT:https://www.sihb.org/wp-content/uploads/SIHB-Summary-of-Benefits.pdf