Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant

Strategic Resources, Inc. (SRI) is an international, ISO 9001/20000/27001 Certified, CMMI Level 3 Rated full-service provider with more than 37 years’ experience in the Federal, military, and commercial marketplaces. SRI is seeking committed and passionate Dental Assistants to join our team to provide critical services to detainees in custody at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Health Services Corps (IHSC) Medical Facilities in support of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Health Services Corps (IHSC) Detention Center Healthcare contract opportunity. 

Overview 

The ICE IHSC exists within the organizational structure of the United States Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) under the supervision of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps Officers, civil service staff and contractors comprise the healthcare professionals working together to provide quality healthcare services. IHSC serves as the medical experts for ICE detainee health care. IHSC is committed to excellence in detention and correctional health care and the provision of safe and high-quality care to those in ICE custody.

Description of Duties 

The dental assistant performs dental assisting duties that facilitate the work of the dentist and dental hygienist including chairside assisting, instrument processing, sterilization, infection control, radiographic duties, dental equipment upkeep, and administrative tasks as directed by the dentist within prescribed policy and accreditation standards.

Required Education and Experience:  

• Applicant mustdemonstratesuccessful completion of a dental assisting programlocatedin the United States, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territory. 


• Applicant must have at leastone-yearrecent clinical experience in the United Sates as a practicing dental assistant. 

Required Licensure/Certification:  

• Must hold andmaintaina current unrestricted dental assisting certificate, license, or registration as required by the State Board of Dental Examiners (SBDE) in the state in which the duty station islocated.


• Must hold and maintain dental x-ray certification as required by the SBDE in the state in which the duty station is located OR if the applicant practices in a state that does not certify radiology or does not allow certification for graduates of non-accredited programs, the applicant must submit evidence of dental radiology training, experience, and competence as determined by the employing agency.  


• Dental Assistant National Board (DANB) certification is preferred but notrequired. 


• Must maintain BLS for Healthcare Providers certification through the American Heart Association.

Duties and Responsibilities:  

• Provides dentalassistingincluding clinical and administrative duties tofacilitatethe work of the dentist and dental hygienist in a detention and/or residential settingin accordance withprescribed IHSC policy and pertinent accreditation standards.


• Assiststhe dentist and dental hygienist with patient treatment including all operatory set-up and clean-up proceduresin accordance withIHSC policy and CDC guidelines (e.g.surface disinfection, waterline and suction treatment, proper sharps handling/disposal methods,etc).


• Performsoptimumsterilization and/or disinfection procedures including instrument processing, autoclave operation/maintenance, and spore testingin accordance withIHSC policy and CDC guidelines. 


• Assistswith the maintenance ofpatient'srecordthrough appointment scheduling, documentation of subjective findings, vital signs, dictated oral conditions, and preparation/completion of dental forms.


• Provides patient education including oral hygiene instructions, post-operative instructions, and availability of care instructions.


• Takesdigital and/or film radiographs as ordered including bitewing, periapical, andpanoramic x-rays.


• Observes IHSC radiation safety protocols, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Radiation Protection Guidance and recommendations, National Council on Radiation Protection Guidance, and American Dental Association recommendations/guidance when exposing dental radiographs to assureoptimalpatient and provider safety. 


• Maintains sharps and instrument accountability in the dental clinic through performance and logging of daily inventory of all sharps and instruments at the beginning and end of each workday. 


• Maintains all required logs/ inventories to include but not limited to biological monitoring log, biopsy log,sharpslog, instrument log, chemical inventory, maintenance logs, etc.


• Collects and organizes dental data andsubmitsto the regional dental consultant ina timelymanner. 


• Attends monthly dental teleconferences, organizational and local duty station meetings.


• May periodically be asked to travel to support dental care at other sites. 


• Performs duties in support of the local medical unit and/or IHSC Dental Program (e.g.equipment maintenance, supply/equipment acquisition, performance improvement initiatives, document scanning,etc).


• In the absence of the dentist and/or dental hygienist, the dental assistant will provide support services to the medical clinic under the direction of the supervisory authority or designee (e.g.performing vital signs and/or other duties within the scope of dental assistant practice).


• Adheres to andmaintainsawareness of all IHSC policies, procedures, directives, operationalmemorandaand accreditation standards.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:  

• Knowledge and understanding of dental assisting principles such as four handed dentistry, basic oral anatomy, dental materials, infection control, dental radiologytechniqueand safety.


• Must adhere to requirements for safety, infection control, quality assurance, documentation, and data management.


• Completes and passes all competency testing initially, annually, and as needed.


• Completes allinitial,annualand ad hoc training as required/assigned.


• Ability toproperly useequipment,materialsand supplies in diagnostic and treatment procedures.


• Ability to communicate proficiently in English (verbal and written).


• Ability to respond to andassistwith medical emergencies.


• Ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual environment.


• Ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and flexibility in work requirements.


• Ability toestablishand maintain positive working relationships in a multidisciplinary environment. 


• Ability to navigateinan electronic work environment including electronic health records,web-basedtraining,and communications. 


• Knowledge of, and moderateproficiencyin, common Microsoft Office programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel,Outlookand SharePoint. 


• Knowledge of regulations on the confidentiality of medical records and information (HIPAA/Privacy Act) and applicable accreditation standards.

Attributes and Professional Qualities:  

• Demonstrates strong problem solving, judgment, and decision-making skills.


• Demonstrates strong leadership skills.


• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills.


• Demonstrates strong organizational and time management skills.


• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.


• Demonstrates integrity and honesty.


• Verbal and writtenproficiencyin Spanish (preferred, notrequired).


• Experience in a detention/correctional or residential healthcare setting (preferred, notrequired).

Duty Hours / On-Call Requirements:  

• IHSC operates 24/7/365; this position isrequiredto respond during an emergency activation.  


• This position requires availability towork day, evening and night shifts; availability during weekends and holidays is alsorequired.


• On-call availability is notrequiredfor this position. 

Physical Demands:  

• The work requires some physical exertion, such aslong periodsof standing; walking or jogging unaided over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; or recurring lifting of moderately heavy patients or equipment.  


• The work may require specific, but common, physical characteristics and abilities, such as agility and dexterity, visual, and hearing capabilities.  


• Must be able to respond to any medical emergency in the facility, via foot, within four minutes and perform CPR/emergency care standing or kneeling.  


• Must have the ability toassistsick, injured, or aging detainees or staff exiting the building during an emergency.  

Security Requirements:  

• The Department of Homeland Security’s Personnel Security Unit (PSU) mustrendera Preliminary Favorable Fitness Determination to be considered a qualified candidate.  


• A Complete Favorable Fitness Determination must berenderedby PSU upon completion ofinitialandsubsequentbackground investigations to meet the requirements of this position. 


• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident.  


• Must have resided in the U.S. or its territories for three (3) or more years out of the last five (5) years.