Dental Sterilization Float (Dental Assistant 2)

University of Washington Medical Center•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The School of Dentistry has an outstanding opportunity for a Dental Assistant 2 to join their team. The Office of Clinical Services (OCS) at the School of Dentistry encompasses the Patient Registration Patient Intake, and Patient Relations offices, Simulation Clinic and Labs, Central Sterilization, and two dispensaries. OCS supports the operations of 13 dental clinics in delivering dental care to the state’s largest and most diverse patient population. We utilize a team-oriented approach and work very hard to delight our patients. The UW School of Dentistry (UWSOD) has an outstanding opportunity in Central Sterilization for a Dental Assistant 2 (DA2). This role is commonly referred to as Dental Assistant - Sterilization Float. Reporting to the Clinic Manager, the person in this position will be primarily based at Main Sterilization in the Health Sciences building on the main UW campus and will float as needed to the Magnuson Sterilization location, which is located our Sandpoint facility and houses the Center for Pediatric Dentistry, Northwest Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Dental Faculty Practice.

Requirements

Completion of an accredited training program for dental assistants
current certification as a dental assistant (CDA) OR the ability to obtain same within six months
PLUS two years of experience as a dental assistant.
One year of additional dental assistant experience may substitute for required education.
Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.
Registration with the State of Washington as a Dental Assistant

Responsibilities

Conduct entire sterilization cycle for all School clinics; debride, perform quality checks, replace instruments as necessary, wrap and sterilize items, following pre-sterilization and sterilization protocols.
Utilize scanning software system to monitor the distribution and flow of instruments, hand pieces, and other patient care items to maintain strict infection control protocols.
Operate autoclaves, washers, and other sterilization equipment; conduct biological testing of equipment.
Maintain hand piece, cassette, bur, impression tray, and spore testing logs; Notify parties of discrepancies and report any ongoing problems to Manager.
Store sterile and disinfected set-ups in preparation for delivery to clinics and students.
Using the instrument ordering software, coordinate the pick-up and delivery of instruments to clinics.
Perform basic calculations related to verifying sterilizer functions and inventory control.
Inspect, assemble, package, label and date instruments and cassettes.
Enter inventory data using a computer terminal or a manual method.
Place orders, as necessary.
Keep all areas clean, orderly, and neat.
Perform related duties as assigned.
Check instruments and cassettes in and out, keeping detailed records of all assets.
Maintain and operate autoclaves and sterilization equipment; disinfect items and follow pre-sterilization and sterilization-established protocol.
Duties include scrubbing, ultrasonic operation, drying, sorting, resetting, packaging and labeling instrument setups.
Assemble dental instrument packs.
Store sterile and disinfected set-ups in preparation for delivery to clinics and providers.
Coordinate the pick-up and delivery of student and school-owned instruments.
Monitor school-owned instruments for breakage and wear; assess replacement needs.
Maintain the daily log of school-owned instruments and equipment checked in and out to students, staff, and faculty on a daily basis.
Notify parties when items are missing.
Monitor and maintain hand pieces sterilization log.
Perform weekly spore testing on autoclaves and other sterilizers.
Keep all areas clean, orderly, and neat.
Provide excellent customer service to faculty, staff, and students.
Verify correct sterilization cycles.
Perform basic calculations related to verifying sterilizer functions and inventory control.
Inspect, assemble, package, label and date instruments and cassettes.
Enter inventory data using a computer terminal or a manual method.
Place orders as necessary.
Complete sterilization training program administered by the School of Dentistry.
Check in dirty instruments, logging hand pieces in and out, filling instrument request orders and delivering instruments to clinics.
Conduct infection control protocols in compliance with OSHA & SOD infection control regulations.
Perform additional sterilization duties as assigned.
Perform chairside four-handed dentistry with dental students in the Student Teaching clinics.
Obtain and prepare dental materials, such as impression material, composite, bonding agents, and disposables needed for patient care.
Perform expanded functions to include taking impressions for study models, place and remove rubber dam, matrix, and wedge, expose radiographs, perform Coronal polish, chart clinical findings, and other delegable duties as specified by law.
Aid dental students, residents and/or faculty in four-handed dentistry and in routine chair-side duties and patient care.
Clean and prepare treatment areas using School of Dentistry standardized infection control protocols.
Conduct inventories and stock supplies.
Monitor school-owned instruments for breakage and wear; assess replacement needs and maintain clinic hand pieces.
Suggest process improvements to leadership.
Participate in dental student clinic orientations and limited classroom activities related to the dental team; may participate in orientation and training of new staff members.
Perform related dental assistant duties as assigned.
Using scanning software, check equipment in and out, including cameras, cavitrons, light cure units, nitrous tanks and other items for students.
Monitor daily reports of items checked out by students, email students with delinquent items.
Manage daily stocking of dispensary supplies, clinic supply bins, disposables, and barrier control items.
Dispense anesthetic, antibiotics, fluoride, and dental materials per UWSOD policy and protocol.
Collect, scan and bag soiled items in preparation for sterilization.
Collect receivable orders from Central Purchasing and distribute items.
Reconcile monthly statements from Central Purchasing.
Perform related duties as assigned.