Dental Assistant (Fee Basis)

Fee Basis Dental Assistant

South Texas Veterans Health Care System Dental Service is seeking Fee Basis Dental Assistants to report to one of three locations : North West Health Care Clinic, Data Point VA Clinic, or Kerrville VA Medical Center. This is an intermittent Fee Basis (per diem) appointment with a rate of $30 / patient, not to exceed $62,400 / year. Responsibilities include serving as staff dental assistant for routine patient care, performing a full range of duties with indirect supervision, assisting the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care, and performing other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.

Key duties include :

• Customer Service : Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers, and the public.
• Chairside Assisting : Sets up operatory and / or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
• Dental Imaging : Demonstrates proper infection control procedures when exposing images and obtains accurate information necessary for the radiology request.
• Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization : Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatories.
• Administrative Functions : Identifies scheduling gaps in the dentist's clinics and assists with filling gaps.
• Information Management : Follows HIPAA guidelines and computer security regulations.
• Patient Safety : Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients and participates in patient identification and time out per Joint Commission requirements.
• Employee Education : Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions.
• Dental Laboratory Functions : Pours impressions and prepares study models.
• Direct Patient Care : Monitors patient vital signs and provides patient preventative education and oral hygiene instruction.

Work Schedule : Intermittent Mon - Fri 8 : 00 a.m. - 4 : 30 p.m., and (optional) Saturdays 7 : 45 a.m. - 4 : 15 p.m.

Requirements include :

Qualifications include :

Physical Requirements : Moderate lifting, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking, standing, repeated bending, operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, specific visual requirement (far vision : 20 / 30), ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), emotional and mental stability, sit for extended periods, cognitive stability.