Hygienist Assistant (HA2) - LD

Multnomah County • Portland, OR

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Hygienist Assistant Health Assistant 2 (HA2) - Limited Duration (LD) works in the School and Community Oral Health (SCOH) Program, assisting the SCOH Expanded Practice Dental Hygienist with dental days in the in-school dental sealant program (grades 2, 3, 6-8), supporting student health center dental, baby day, and other projects. The person holding this position will be responsible for D3 programs - registering patients, dropping charges, inputting reporting data, transporting supplies, contacting parents and schools, promoting the dental program in school classrooms and at school functions, and assisting the hygienists as needed with care delivery, limited clinical procedural functions and documentation. During school closures this position will assist ICS dental clinics. This is a Limited Duration position and may last up to 2 years.

Requirements

• Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.
• One (1) to four (4) years of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. (Equivalency 1-4 years of qualifying training and/or experience).
• BLS CPR Certification or ability to obtain certification within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct, limited clinical chairside assistance and support to Dental Hygienists as needed during dental assessments, dental sealants, and other preventative dental needs for efficient dental care and as a second party for providing safety requirements that student/patient is not alone with only one adult.
• Sets up SCOH dental care and equipment needs following the proper procedures ensuring all instruments and supplies are available for patient care.
• Cleans areas via wiping down surfaces and prepares instruments for sterilization according to established infection control guidelines.
• Follows and promotes Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidelines and monitors supply (inventory) levels.
• Coordinates and monitors dental equipment and materials on program days.
• Transports portable dental supplies to and from SCOH to the dental site locations (schools) as needed.
• Performs laboratory support duties, if needed.
• Interacts with patients in a respectful and courteous manner.
• Provide direction and feedback to students and volunteers who assist in the school sealant program.
• Communicate pertinent information to the dental team concerning dental student and volunteer performance or concerns.
• Organizes and coordinates patient flow to the service site with minimal impact on school staff and students through scheduling students, updating clinic schedules, answering student questions, etc.
• Goes to classroom to gather/collect students, walks/travels to dental area for services, and returns student to classroom, causing as little disruption as possible to the classroom and learning environment for the student and classroom.
• Represents SCOH dental interests at school sites.
• Increases consent form return rate, referring patients to the clinic by phone calls, printed materials, education at the schools or other means.
• Registers patients in the Epic system and processes charges for billing.
• Review student/patient care and enrollment forms, follow up with students for incomplete information or missing forms, answer questions, record health, social and household information and history.
• Verify insurance information.
• Gather and input data into program reporting documents, program forms and medical charts.
• Ensure medical and protected personal information is managed appropriately to maintain HIPAA and department standards.
• Provide regular communication and status reports to supervisor and teammates indicating progress toward goals and any barriers/challenges being faced or needs for support for self, the team and/or students.
• Track and report on areas of improvement such as reasons for student/patient no-show, need to change appointment time or date, etc.
• Conduct outreach calls in an effort to engage priority populations (primarily adolescents) in needed preventive or follow up care.
• Provide program education to students, parents, and teachers; education and information may include referrals for services external to the Health Department.
• Provide culturally appropriate oral health and adolescent health education and promotion to patients, educators, and parents related to needed preventive services.
• Use behavior change theory and motivational interviewing techniques to help move patients toward goals for improved dental health.
• Interact with patients in a friendly and professional manner.
• Identify barriers in accessing care and problem solve with patients to overcome those barriers.
• Support programmatic or operational goals to meet annual metric targets for identified and priority populations.
• Provides feedback to the dental team for suggested improvements in care delivery, outreach to communities, etc.

Benefits

• employer-funded retirement savings
• health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents
• paid parental leave
• wellness programs
• a focus on work-life balance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED