At Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, we welcome diversity; we encourage, uplift, and are honored to serve people who have been historically underrepresented and underserved. Our mission is to provide high quality, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate primary health care to the communities of Washington and Yamhill counties with a special emphasis on migrant and seasonal farmworkers and others with barriers to receiving health care. We strive to provide an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we employ and serve.

Job Summary: The Dental Assistant I assists the dentist or dental hygienist. This position exposes and processes x-rays, manages the dental operatories and performs patient intake.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist the dentist or dental hygienist in transfer of instruments utilizing approved dental assisting principles. Assist the operator in preparation and delivery of dental materials.
• Layout necessary instruments for procedure.
• Expose and process x-rays and duplicate when necessary; ensure all x-rays are suitable for diagnosis.
• Provide supportive care for patients.
• Keep the operatory neat and clean during procedures and disinfect thoroughly before each patient arrives.
• Properly maintain hand pieces and ensure that vacuum lines, unit, chair, light, instruments and try set ups are thoroughly disinfected and properly sterilized at all times.
• Maintain inventory of and order dental supplies; provide administration with appropriate purchase orders.
• Restock rooms as necessary.
• Provide patient management for the dental department.
• Perform expanded function duties as necessary.
• Work with the Dental Operations Coordinator on infection control and OSHA guidelines.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Handle protected health information (PHI) in a manner consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

HIPAA Requirements

The Dental Assistant I will have access to PHI in the course of carrying out their duties. Applying the minimum necessary standard of HIPAA, the designated records sets to which this employee will have access include: the full dental chart, the full medical chart, all information in the practice management system, and all other billing and account information.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

·         Ability to be culturally sensitive and to relate to people of varied racial, educational, and socio-economic backgrounds.

• Ability to work independently as well as part of a professional team.
• Willing to support own team members to accomplish daily activities.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, written and spoken, preferred.

Education and Experience Required:

• High School graduate or equivalent.
• Certificate of Radiology Proficiency.
• Previous dental assistant experience preferred.

Behavioral Competencies:

Accountability: Role model VG's mission, vision, and shared values

Customer-Focus: Listen to the voice of the customer and strive to delight them by exceeding their expectations

Teamwork: If someone needs help, help them

Initiative: Be innovative, apply fresh ideas, and continuously improve how you do your work

Confidentiality: Maintain strict confidentiality and respect the privacy of others

Ethical: Demonstrate integrity, honesty, and stewardship in all encounters at work

Respect: Demonstrate consideration and appreciation for co-workers and patients

Communication: Demonstrate the ability to convey thoughts and ideas as well as understand perspective of others

Physical Requirements:

• Sitting · 10%
• Standing · up to 85%
• Walking · up to 50%
• Use of computer · 5%
• Ability to lift/carry up to 30 lbs.

Working Environment/Physical Hazards:

• Work in well-lighted, ventilated environment
• Exposure to blood borne pathogens and potentially hazardous chemicals

Immunization:
Staff members must meet immunization requirements as stated in VGMHC's immunization policy and state and federal guidelines.

Job descriptions represent a general outline of the essential and major job duties, functions and qualifications required. They cannot be all-inclusive and comprehensive due to the dynamic nature of work performed to accomplish VGMHC's Mission.

VGMHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from consideration for employment because of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, veteran status, marital status, or physical challenges. The policy applies not only to recruitment and hiring practices, but also includes affirmative action in placement, promotion, transfer, rate of pay, and termination.