The Dental Hygiene Lead works closely with the Chief Dental Officer to set an example for all hygiene staff as culture champion. The Hygiene Lead will help develop clinical standards and support strategy as it relates to hygiene clinical care. They will help ensure that the highest dental standards of care are practiced at NHC. As a dental hygienist, this position is responsible for providing dental hygiene and periodontal therapy treatment to patients in clinic and mobile dental units.

This is a 0.1 FTE administrative position.

Lead Essential Job Duties

• Assists Chief Dental Officer (CDO) in duties to maintain quality of dental services, providing input into the development of treatment guidelines and protocols.
• Supports clinical hygienists (i.e., problem-solving, professional development, assisting with coordinating time off).
• Problem solves performance issues for hygiene providers in organization (i.e., documentation expectations, productivity, equity, quality of care, provider satisfaction, patient satisfaction, behavior, staff collaboration).
• Provider Training and Support Staff Training (i.e., coordination of training for practice changes, promotion of quality of care, support skill learning, coordination of onboarding for new clinical hygienist hires).
• Electronic health record optimization
• Consistently models a positive commitment to patients, coworkers, and the organization.
• Participates in provider meetings, quality meetings, and other community or professional activities as requested by the CDO.
• Proactively identifies areas where improvement is needed in clinical care.
• Accepts personal responsibility for contributing to the organization’s initiatives and objectives.
• Mentors individual hygienists in areas that need improvement if self-identified or identified by CDO. Performs on-site supervision as needed.
• Informs CDO of any performance concerns and collaborates in development of performance improvement plans for hygiene providers at risk.
• Assists in assessing procedural competency of clinical hygienists for privileging.
• Performs the annual reviews of the clinical hygiene providers.
• Assists the CDO in coordinating, carrying out, and reviewing quarterly chart audits for hygiene providers.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Provider Essential Job Duties

• Provides clinical services to adults and children including prophylaxis, scaling, root planing, soft tissue curettage, and preventative care (oral health screenings, dental sealants, fluoride treatments and education).
• Obtains and enters patient information into electronic dental record, including chief complaint, health history, medications, allergies, vitals, patient pain level, findings, and treatment plans.
• Develops and implements preventive oral health programs for patients.
• Provides blood pressure screening and administers topical and local anesthesia as licensure permits.
• Performs fluoride applications, polish restorations and alloys.
• Provides nitrous oxide as licensure permits.
• Coordinates a variety of dental health services including case management and referrals to available community resources.
• Provides patients and their families with instruction on oral hygiene, oral disease prevention and post-operative instructions, including anticipated next steps and appointment information.
• Consults regularly with dentists on individual patient needs and complex medical histories.
• Maintains proper infection control practices at all times, including the following areas: PPE, hand hygiene, handling and disposal of sharps and biohazard waste, instrument sterilization, and dental operatory disinfection.
• Maintains collaborative relationships with all levels of co-workers and the general public.
• Assists in new employee training on specific tasks, as needed.
• Works collaboratively in a team environment with a spirit of cooperation.
• Participates in process and quality improvement workflows.
• Maintains punctual, regular, and predictable attendance.
• Complies with NHC standardized workflows, protocols, HIPAA, OSHA, and safety guidelines.
• Performs all duties necessary to support tele-dentistry as needed.

Qualifications

• Requires graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program.
• One-year related experience and/or training preferred.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Requires a current license to practice dental hygiene issued by the State of Oregon.
• Requires a current and unencumbered driver’s license with the ability to pass a DMV record check.
• Must have their EPDH, Expanded Practice Dental Hygienist.
• Must be BLS/CPR certified.

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