Mobile Dental Assistant

Position Overview

The Hampton Roads Community Health Center is looking for Mobile Dental Assistants to join their dental team. As a Mobile Dental Assistant, you will help support the clinical needs of the community health center's patients and dentists. You will have the support and training you need to maximize your career potential and help make a difference in your community one healthy smile at a time. In addition, under general supervision, this non-exempt position serves as the primary driver of our mobile healthcare units. This position has a dual reporting responsibility to the Dental Office Manager and the Chief Dental Officer.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain efficient operations on the Mobile Unit; Transports, operates, and sets up our mobile healthcare units to various community partners to facilitate mobile healthcare delivery to our patients; loads and unloads equipment as assigned, assess patients and prepare patients for procedure in a timely manner with regard to maintaining patient flow and anticipating the needs of the Provider; perform fourhanded dentistry, preventive procedures such as dental prophylaxis, fluoride treatment, dental x-rays, dental education, screening, and dental sealants or as directed by the Virginia Board of Dentistry; perform patient record keeping as directed.
• Prepares the Mobile Unit, exam room for appointments by sterilizing instruments and ensuring all necessary equipment is ready for the dentist; practices infection control procedures and maintains lab, extraction, and infection control logs according to guidelines set by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
• Schedules patients to accommodate the Healthy Smiles Dental Center and the School Dental Program; demonstrates start up and break down procedures for the Mobile Dental Unit to include, securing all items for transport, and general maintenance of dental equipment; assists the Mobile Unit Coordinator with charts and maintaining the general cleanliness of the mobile unit; monitors inventory, and stocks patient exam rooms.
• Assists with the startup and break down procedures for the mobile unit according to the specifications of the manufacturer to include securing all items for transport, performs routine checks and preventative maintenance of equipment; identifies and reports equipment malfunctions; unplugging and plugging mobile units to shore power; responsible for maintaining cleanliness in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations to include the removal of healthcare waste; and vendor coordination for the removal of wastewater.
• Ensures the safety of company equipment, private property, and others by following proper safety procedures, watching for overhead utility lines, and checking for traffic; sets out traffic cones and signs according to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD); responds to emergency situations with independent actions and within the scope of practice until professional assistance is available; and maintains fuel levels, travel logs, and prepares reports.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited dental assistant program and two (2) or more years of related dental assistant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Must have a current Radiation Certification and Basic Life Support Techniques Certification.
• Graduate of an accredited dental assistant program and two (2) or more years of related dental assistant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Must have a current Radiation Certification and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification. Subject to credentialing.
• Minimum of one (1) year of tractor/trailer/bus driving experience; graduate from an acceptable truck driving training program; or any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Must be able to understand and comply with applicable DOT rules and regulations. Must interact with client personnel and health care team members in a responsible, professional, and ethical manner. Must be flexible, reliable, and demonstrate sound judgement and initiative.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Dental Assistant- Ability to assist the dentist using four-handed dental assisting techniques. Ability to apply sterilization techniques, infectious control, and exposure procedures. Proper radiation techniques and how to assess patients.
• HIPAA- Knowledge of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to ensure the privacy and safeguard patient information.
• Customer Service- Considerable knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service. This includes meeting quality standards for service.
• Technology- Knowledge of general office equipment and personal computers to include word processing, spreadsheet, and related software. Comprehensive knowledge of office systems, practices, procedures and administration.
• Computer Skills- Utilizes a personal computer with word processing, spreadsheet, and related software to effectively complete a variety of financial tasks with reasonable speed and accuracy.
• Time Management- Plans and organizes daily work routine. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Implements work activities in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules.
• Interpersonal Relationships- Develops and maintains cooperative and professional relationships with employees and all levels of management to include representatives from other departments and organizations.
• Communication- Ability to effectively communicate ideas and proposals verbally and in writing, to include the preparation of detailed logs which include numerical information.
• Judgment/Decision Making- Evaluates the best method of research and then exercises appropriate judgment in establishing priorities and resolving complex matters. Considers the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Safe Driving Practices- Familiarity with safe driving practices and regulations, including defensive driving techniques, road safety protocols, and adherence to local traffic laws and regulations.
• Requires the ability to exert light to medium physical effort. in sedentary to light or medium work. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at keyboard or workstation
• Some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-50 pounds).