Dental Assistant; Fee

Fee Basis Dental Assistant positions with the South Texas Veterans Health Care System Dental Service will report to one of three locations:
North West Health Care Clinic - 9939 State Highway 151 - San Antonio - TX , Data Point VA Clinic - 8410 Data Point Drive - San Antonio - TX , or Kerrville VA Medical Center - 3600 Memorial Boulevard - Kerrville - TX . This is an intermittent Fee Basis (per diem) appointment with a rate of $30/patient, not to exceed $62,400/year.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

• Citizenship:
  You must be a citizen of the United States.
• English Language Proficiency:
  Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Experience and
  
  Education:
  
  To fulfill this requirement, you must meet one of the following:
  
  Experience:
  
  Six months experience that demonstrates your 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.
• Certification:
  Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. You must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in this regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field.
• Preferred Experience:
  
  Five to seven years Dental assisting experience in various specialties, Experience with electronic records/digital x-rays, Familiarity with surgical procedures, Experience with Veterans, Customer service oriented, Commitment to VHA organizational goals.
• Physical Requirements:
  
  Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (6 hours), standing (6 hours), repeated bending (2-4 hours), 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, performs independently, cognitive stability.

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties:
  Serves as staff dental assistant for routine patient care and performs a full range of duties with indirect supervision from the lead or supervisory dental assistant or the treating dentist.
• Performs assigned selected procedures with some independence, some complex patient procedures are performed under indirect supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor.
• Assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.
• Customer Service:
  Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public, Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery.
• Chairside Assisting:
  Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover, Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently, Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
• Dental Imaging:
  Demonstrates proper infection control procedures when exposing images, Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized.
• Administrative Functions:
  Identifies scheduling gaps in the dentist's clinics and assists MAS with filling gaps, Initiates computerized progress note, Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records.
• Patient Safety:
  Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position), Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients, Participates in patient identification and time out per Joint Commission requirements.
• Employee
  
  Education:
  
  Complies with Employee Education requirements, Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions.
• Dental Laboratory Functions:
  Pours impressions and prepares study models, Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims, Fabricates athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays.
• Direct Patient Care:
  Monitors patient vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure, Applies topical anesthetic at the injection site, Applies topical fluoride.

Work Schedule:

Intermittent, Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.

- 4:30 p.m., and (optional) Saturdays 7:45 a.m.

- 4:15 p.m.