The Lead Dental Assistant serves as a work leader to dental assistants, assists the Dental Service Supervisory Dentist and staff dentist in performing complex work of clinical and other administrative function with limited supervision.

Duties

Functions Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Provides input on clinical workflow/assignments and provides guidance using advanced knowledge of dental-assisting principles across multiple areas of practice. Provides input in dental-program development, outcome management, and strategic planning. Acts as liaison between dental-assisting staff and supervisor. Provides guidance to other assistants in achieving quality radiographs. Instructs in maintenance of all dental service equipment. Performs room inspections to provide feedback to dental assistants and ensure compliance with infection control guidelines. Provides primary support to the Supervisory Dentist for the daily delivery of department programs to include Environment of Care, Infection Control, Reusable Medical Equipment, Community Care, Consult Management, Specialty Referral coordination, Pharmacy Communication, Digital Dentistry, Clinic Utilization and Inventory Management. Provide daily staffing reports, and updates morning huddle board and electronic huddle sheet. Coordinates patients' care plans to reduce redundancies and delay in patient treatment, coordinating community care referrals for specialty and general dental care, and will act as liaison between Veteran Affairs Dental clinic and community provider to relay any information and ensure optimal patient experience. Follows standard operating procedures for all reusable medical equipment (RME) in use in the dental clinical area. Keeps patients informed of clinic delays. Directly communicates with patients when treatment will not commence within 20-minutes of the patient's scheduled appointment time. Provides patient with an anticipated time that the patient will be seen, asks the patient if that time is acceptable or if the patient desires to reschedule. Charts findings and treatment plans in Dental Record Manager. Completes electronic return to clinic orders using the Computerized Patient Record System. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 0730-1600 possible rotating Saturdays Telework: Not eligible for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized??????? Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English. Education and/or Experience: Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's 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). 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. Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field. Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence: Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. OR Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry. OR Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD). Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB certification is required for all positions above the full performance level. This is an above full performance grade level. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Lead Dental Assistant GS-07 Experience: At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: a. Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice, and demonstrated ability to provide guidance to staff dental assistants. b. Skill in coordinating clinical work flow and assignments. c. Ability to assist in dental program development, outcome management, and strategic planning. d. Skill in acting as liaison between staff dental assistants and the supervisor. e. Ability to provide professional oversight and consultation for staff dental assistants. Assignment. The Lead Dental Assistant works with the supervisor or Chief Dental Service to monitor and make work assignments, provide input on performance, resolve daily workplace issues, and maintain efficient flow of patient care; may approve brief periods of leave, provide training to staff dental assistants, students and/or trainees; may recommend special advancements and promotions, disciplinary actions, etc. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: provides instruction to other assistants in achieving diagnostic quality radiographs, provides instruction in maintenance of all dental service equipment, provides primary support to the chief for the daily delivery of department programs, reporting, staffing and scheduling, coordinates the patients' care plans to reduce redundancies and delay in patient treatment. Lead Dental Assistants generally would be found in Complexity Level 1 (High Complexity) or Complexity Level 2 (Medium Complexity) facilities, or in facilities of lesser complexity levels where large dental services are found. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis. Preferred Experience: Two years of recent general dental experience assisting in general dentistry. Experience in working with dental equipment and managing supplies. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/46, PART II, APPENDIX G36 The full performance level of this vacancy is 07. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Spark M Matsunaga Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 459 Patterson Road Honolulu, HI 96819 US
• Name: Lizbeth Torres
• Phone: (415) 221-4810 X24760
• Email: [email protected]