This Lead Dental Assistant position is located at Bay Pines Dental Clinic in Bay Pines, FL. The Lead Dental Assistant is an integral member of the dental team and facilitates team processes by working collaboratively with team members to ensure that tasks are completed, that good working relationships among team members and with management are maintained, and that team priorities and goals, needs and achievements are coordinated with management. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education and Experience: Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work. OR, Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). OR, Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Dental Radiographer Certification: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, you must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in your field. Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence: Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.; OR, Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry; OR, Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD). Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certification: The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB certification it is required for all positions above the full performance level. This position is above the full performance level. English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Grade Determinations: Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-06) that demonstrates the core competencies described is required. At the GS-06 grade level employees have the ability to perform a full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties, with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant, dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: using the concepts of four-handed dentistry; assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration; anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays. Additionally, the knowledge, skills and abilities at the GS-06 grade level are: Ability to identify normal oral anatomy. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist. Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the above experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following GS-07 grade level technical KSAs : Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice, and demonstrated ability to provide guidance to staff dental assistants. Skill in coordinating clinical work flow and assignments. Ability to assist in dental program development, outcome management, and strategic planning. Skill in acting as liaison between staff dental assistants and the supervisor. Ability to provide professional oversight and consultation for staff dental assistants. References: VA Handbook 5005/46, Part II, Appendix G36, Dental Assistant Qualification Standard, GS-681, Dated April 19, 2011. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work include moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.), heavy carrying (45 lbs. and over), ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, good distant vision in one eye, ability to hear whisper voice. There is moderate walking (3-4 hrs.) and some extended periods of standing (3-4 hrs.). ["The Lead Dental Assistant works with the Dental Service Chief and Supervisory Dental Assistant to monitor and make work assignments, provide input on performance, resolve daily workplace issues, and maintain efficient flow of patient care. The Lead Dental Assistant assists the dental team in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical, dental laboratory, administrative/clerical and program management functions independently of direct supervision. Duties and responsibilities of the Lead Dental Assistant include, but are not limited to: Lead Duties Leads a team of dental employees and Fee Basis dental providers. Provides the guidance and technical direction necessary for accomplishing the work of the team. Takes responsibility for the dental team's performance on National dental performance measures/monitors and indicators. Serves as a work leader, assuring the work assignments of employees in the unit are carried out. Coordinates daily work assignments at the start of the shift and throughout the day as the need arises. Monitors the status and progress of work and makes adjustments in accordance with established priorities. Obtains assistance from the Dental Chief or Supervisory Dental Assistant as needed for major issues or problems which arise. Provides expert advice on specific tasks, procedures and policies. Identifies training needs and instructs employees in specific tasks and job techniques. Trains employees and fee basis providers in computerized dental patient record systems including generating patient consults, storing and viewing digital images, entry of diagnostic data and preparation of treatment plans. Trains (or makes arrangements for training) team members, students and volunteers in the accomplishment of tasks or projects. Maintains current knowledge and answers questions from team members on procedures, policies, and directives. Makes written instructions, reference materials, and relevant background material available. Obtains needed information on decisions from the Dental Chief or Supervisory Dental Assistant on major issues and problems that arise. Provides input in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Reusable Medical Devices (RMD). Trains dental team in SOPs and reports noncompliance to Dental Chief or Supervisory Dental Assistant. Works closely with and serves as the liaison with Sterile Processing Service (SPS) to ensure availability of instruments so that clinical care is not delayed. Clinical Duties Proficiently provides procedures commonly recognized by the dental profession for safe performance by a dental assistant: fourhanded chair-side dental assisting, dental lab procedures, and performing other such procedures as may be delegated by the dentist consistent with the Florida State Dental Practice Act. Complies with all Patient Safety processes: Infection control, patient identification, time-out, iMed (informed) consent, medication reconciliation, and hand-off communication. Follows standard operating procedures for all reusable medical devices (RMD), instruments, materials, and personal protective equipment (PPE) in use in the dental clinical areas. Keeps patients informed of clinic delays by directly communicating with patients when treatment will not commence within 10-minutes of the patient's scheduled appointment time. Prepares the operatory with all needed equipment, materials and supplies for planned dental procedure(s) prior to seating the patient and cleans operatory after the patient is dismissed for timely turnover. Performs and records patient's blood pressure, pulse, and medical history; recognizes patient signs of physical distress and monitors patients' condition during treatment. Captures and saves diagnostic quality digital radiographs of the mouth, gums, jaws, and/or teeth, both intraoral and extraoral, within the desired time frame. Anticipates the dentist's need at each stage of the treatment procedure, including specialty procedures (in oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontics, prosthodontics, and implant placement and retention), and makes instrumentation and/or materials readily available, whether in the dental clinic, operating room, or the patient's bedside. Keeps the operative field clear of debris and improves access by effectively and comfortably retracting the tongue and/or oral tissues. Prepares and mixes dental materials per manufacturer's instructions. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: 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"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.