What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dental Hygienist position at Fayetteville NC VA Medical Center?
The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.
Basic Requirements:
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:
(1) 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.
(2) 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. (3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
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.
Grade Determinations: Dental Hygienist, GS-09 (a) Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-9.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
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
b. Patient Care
Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently
Provides gross debridement, deep scaling, and curettage and root planning procedures
Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable
Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed
Applies desensitizing and sealant materials
Administers topical anesthetic agents
Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols
c. Patient Education
Provides patient education appropriate to the veteran's needs and oral condition
Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatients, outpatients, caregivers
d. Dental Imaging
Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed
Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized
e. Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization
Demonstrates proper infection procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory
Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards
Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care
Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images
f. Clerical Functions
Assists patients in scheduling appointments
Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
Charts findings, treatments plans, and treatment provided in patient records
g. Information Management
Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information
Follows computer security regulations
h. Patient Safety
Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position)
Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients
Participates in patient identification and time out per JCAHO requirements
Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress
i. Employee Education
Complies with Employee Education requirements
Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am-4:30pm Compressed Schedule
Compressed/Flexible: Available
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 hygienist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
- 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.]
- Licensure/Certification (1) 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. (2) Certification. P.L. 97-35, Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Of 1981, requires persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R. Part 75, Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs for and the Credentialing of Radiologic Personnel. To meet this requirement, 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 meets the requirement for certification as dental radiographers.
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:
(1) 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.
(2) 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. (3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
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.
Grade Determinations: Dental Hygienist, GS-09 (a) Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-9.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
Responsibilities:
a. Customer ServiceShows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public
Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery
b. Patient Care
Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently
Provides gross debridement, deep scaling, and curettage and root planning procedures
Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable
Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed
Applies desensitizing and sealant materials
Administers topical anesthetic agents
Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols
c. Patient Education
Provides patient education appropriate to the veteran's needs and oral condition
Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatients, outpatients, caregivers
d. Dental Imaging
Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed
Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized
e. Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization
Demonstrates proper infection procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory
Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards
Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care
Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images
f. Clerical Functions
Assists patients in scheduling appointments
Assists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
Charts findings, treatments plans, and treatment provided in patient records
g. Information Management
Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information
Follows computer security regulations
h. Patient Safety
Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position)
Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients
Participates in patient identification and time out per JCAHO requirements
Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress
i. Employee Education
Complies with Employee Education requirements
Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am-4:30pm Compressed Schedule
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Salary : $64,453