The full performance (Journey) level for this occupation in VHA is the GS-0682-09 grade level. The applicant may be selected at any level between GS-5 through GS-9. Dental Hygienists perform a wide variety of interventions which contribute to the overall oral health of Veterans. Their work requires a professional knowledge of the field of dental hygiene and the biomedical sciences related to dentistry.

Duties

This job opportunity announcement (JOA) will be used to fill one (1) full-time and permanent GS-0682-5 Target 9 Dental Hygienist vacancy with the Dental Service at the Lexington, KY Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). Please read this announcement in its entirety before beginning the application process to ensure you submit all the required documents. See Required Document sections in this announcement before applying. Please read the application questionnaire before applying: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12623451. Federal Resume Tips, Please READ Duties are included but not limited to: Assesses patients (e.g. risk assessments, oral health assessments) Preforms Periodontal Screening and Recording Preforms Periodontal treatment for mild disease (e.g. Scaling and root planing, full mouth deridement) Applies Fluoride treatment Administers topical anesthesia Manages stable but medically compromised patient (including risk factors) Provides proper use of dental radiography equipment Assesses image capture and interpretation of films Characterizes images by diagnostic quality Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images Prepares instruments for sterilization by SPD standards Sets up and cleans up operatory Assists patients in scheduling appointments Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments Charts findings, treatment plans, and treatment provided in patient records Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions Prepares and presents monthly Safety Training to Dental Service Staff as requested or needed Instructs and supervises dental hygiene students Informs the supervisor of problems or unusual situations with recommendations for appropriate action Meets the needs of all customers while supporting the Medical Center Service missions Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner Provides the customers with consistent information according to established policies and procedures Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately Provides care and/or services appropriate to the age of the patients being served Assesses data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the information needed to identify each patient's requirements Demonstrates the knowledge of the changes associated with aging and possess the ability to provide care/support based upon age related factors Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHA guidelines Protects the data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion Performs any other duties which are in the best interest of patient care and considered necessary by the Supervisor Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs. or over), Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.), Light lifting (15 lbs. and under), Light carrying (15 lbs. and under), Pushing (1 hour), Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingertips, Both Hands required, Walking (up to 4 hours), Standing (up to 8 hours), Kneeling (up to 2 hours), Repeated bending (up to 6 hours), Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16", Hearing (aid permitted).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).See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 30361F, 30378F, 30410F, 30409F, 30408F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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. Education: Associate Degree or higher in an accredited dental hygiene program. This program must be accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Licensure: Applicants must be currently licensed to practice as a dental hygienist with a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. 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. Accredited dental hygiene programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures which will meet the requirement for certification as dental radiographers. English Language Proficiency:Dental hygienists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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). Grandfathering Provision: All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: Dental Hygienist, GS-05 Experience. None, beyond the basic requirements. Assignment. Employees at this level serve in entry level dental hygienist positions. They receive guidance from more experienced staff members for patient issues and require daily supervision at the site of work. Dental Hygienist, GS-06 Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level. Assignment: Employees at this level serve as developmental level 1 dental hygienists. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for complex patient issues and require daily and direct contact at the site of work from the assigned supervisor. Dental Hygienist, GS-07 Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. Assignment. Employees at this level serve as developmental level 2 dental hygienists. It is expected that they perform more complex work while receiving less frequent supervision than at the GS-6 level. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (also referred to as "clinical competencies") associated with current professional dental hygiene practice. Evidence of such experience includes experience in private practice, U. S. military services, local/state/federal health care or educational facilities. Dental Hygienist, GS-08 Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. Assignment. Employees at this level serve as developmental level 3 dental hygienists with the ability to perform direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist. It is expected that they receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: patient assessments (e.g. risk assessments, oral health assessments), prevention recommendations, prophylaxis, periodontal treatment for mild to moderate disease (e.g. scaling and root planing, full mouth debridement), Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR) radiograph/image capture, fluoride treatment application, topical anesthesia administration and management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors). Dental Hygienist, GS-09 Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. Assignments. Employees at this level serve as staff dental hygienists at the full performance level. They provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision from a dentist. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to patient medical assessment (e.g. medical/dental history, social history, vital signs, full periodontal assessment and charting), disease and treatment management recommendations, denture care, scaling and root planing, radiographs/image interpretation, patient education (e.g. post-procedure, tobacco cessation, caries and perio-disease prevention), behavior management, management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors), instrument sharpening, inter-service communication. Preferred Experience: 1 year experience as a Dental Hygienist Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Long periods of standing, walking, sitting and bending are required. The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-9.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Education. Applicants must possess an Associate degree or higher from an accredited dental hygiene program. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved programs are:

1. Dental hygiene programs accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
2. Education completed outside of the United States must be considered at least equivalent to that gained in CODA accredited United States programs and would enable the candidate to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, which is administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.

Link to the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) :
CODA | Commission on Dental Accreditation (ada.org)

Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.

Contacts

• Address Lexington VA Health Care System 2250 Leestown Road Lexington, KY 40511 US
• Name: Kendall Bedell
• Phone: 570-550-2839
• Email: [email protected]