Practice Assistant - AZ - Dental Institute

Overview

The Practice Assistant in the College of Dental Medicine – Arizona (CDMA) provides assistance to the dentist and student dentist when it relates to examining and treating patients. The Practice Assistant in the Dental Institute is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the CDMA’s clinics, including the coordination of materials, equipment and supplies, answering patient phone calls, scheduling patient appointments, and retrieving and relaying patient phone messages to students and faculty.

Incumbents in this position work in multiple areas within the CDMA’s clinics on a rotational and/or specific assignment-based system. The Practice Assistant in the Dental Institute reports directly to the Practice Assistant Supervisor and must be able to adapt to work schedule changes based on the hours of the clinic.

• Professionalism & Collegiality
  • Model and ensure professional and collegial behavior.
  • Maintain a positive working environment.
  • Provide an environment of high quality, open and respectful communications.
• Equipment, Instrument and Consumable Supplies
  • Participate in the cycle of equipment, instruments and supplies.
  • Deliver instrument carts to student dentists within the various suites.
  • Check out equipment, instruments, and supplies to the student dental provider.
  • Check used instruments and equipment back in.
  • Deliver instrument carts with used supplies back to the sterilization room and return used instruments.
• Group Practice Clinic Functionality
  • Schedule and confirm appointments with the goal of optimizing clinic utilization. Systematically review student schedules, review reports for patients with overdue appointments, and proactively facilitate the clinic schedule to ensure available clinic times are utilized.
  • Keep treatment records.
  • Report malfunctioning equipment to appropriate personnel and identify general maintenance problems.
  • Assure presence of necessary materials and maintain materials and supplies for day-to-day operation.
  • Adhere to all clinic policies including infection control guidelines.
  • Participate in instrument, equipment, and supply coordination.
  • Receive, greet, and prepare patients for treatment.
  • Acquire and assist with radiographs and related imaging, including digital radiographs, intra-oral, extra-oral, and Cone Beam CT; assist dental students with radiographs and demonstrate radiographic technique as needed.
  • Maintain sterilization and disinfection of radiology instruments and equipment.
  • Import outside radiographs into patient electronic chart and assist with radiology clinic operations.
  • Assist with training employees and record keeping of radiation dosimetry.
  • Facilitate daily operations of the radiology clinic and assist radiology faculty.
• Education and Compliance
  • Ensure adherence to clinic policies and regulatory requirements such as infection control guidelines, OSHA standards, and HIPAA privacy and security protocols.
  • Work with student dentists, staff, and faculty to assure adherence to all clinic policies.
  • Provide information on violations of clinic policies to management.
• Sterilization and Dispensing
  • Dispense, collect, and process dental instruments, equipment, and consumable supplies for patient care and student education.
  • Prepare and process instruments, supplies and equipment; clean, disinfect, sterilize, package and restock as needed.
  • Utilize aseptic techniques and track inventory; assist in data entry and ordering; maintain organization of sterilizing and dispensing rooms.
  • Maintain stock of supplies such as autoclave bags, tape, towels, patient drapes, etc.; assist in training new employees and educate staff about sterilization and infection control issues.
• Chair Side Dental Assisting
  • Provide chair side dental assistance as needed; adjust equipment, transfer materials, evacuate debris, and maintain a clear field of operation.
  • Make diagnostic quality radiographic images; set up and maintain dental cubicles; follow infection control guidelines.
  • Demonstrate four-handed dentistry; place rubber dams; prepare materials for impressions and restorations and make casts; fabricate temporary crowns.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Bilingual/fluency in Spanish and English preferred.
  • Ass…