Description
NCAPHA is actively recruiting for a Public Health Dentist to be placed at the Pitt County Health Dept. in Greenville, NC
Public Health Dentist –
Hourly rate: $125
About Pitt County
Pitt County is a rapidly growing service center for the eastern coastal plains with a population of 178,433 people. It is home to East Carolina University and a regional tertiary care hospital serving 29 counties. Despite its resources and development, the poverty level is high at 22.9%, compared to 15.5% for N.C. The distribution of race is 54.4% white, 34% African American. More than 6.26% are Hispanic and this population is growing rapidly (Data Source: https://datausa.io/profile/geo/pitt-county-nc#demographics).
The Pitt County Health Department was created in 1917 and its mission is to protect, promote and assure the health of all people in Pitt County. The primary purpose of the agency is to provide assessment, evaluation, treatment and preventive health service to Pitt County residents; to reduce morbidity and premature mortality from preventable communicable disease and/or conditions.
Job Description
The primary purpose of the dentist position is to provide preventive and restorative dental care to Health Department clients and to improve the dental health of children seeking care. Clinical services include emergency dental care for the relief of pain and/or infection as well as scheduled restorative, periodontics and preventive dental procedures. The dentist will assist with community dental hygiene education as needed.
Work hours are from 8:00 Am to 5:00 pm with one hour for lunch. These 40 hours may be scheduled differently depending on the schedules of dental staff. The work hours while working on the mobile dental unit will run concurrently with the School Schedule and will allow for flexibility of the .80 FTE Dental Staff team.
Responsibilities
1. Dentist will be responsible for overseeing operations of both the Mobile Clinical Services as well as multiple stationary on-site services located at a secondary clinical site.
2. Dentist will, in partnership with Administration staff and the Health Director, be responsible for the fiscal management of the dental program assuring the services provided are revenue generating to cover the cost of the clinical offerings.
3. Dentist will be responsible for all Policy and Procedure development, review and maintenance required for the safe operation of the dental services clinic as well as maintaining compliance with all Infection Control and NC OSHA standards.
4. Dentist, along with the dental coordinator, shall provide reporting to the Health Director concerning the service type, # of visits, and service delivery model at the frequency directed by the Director.
5. Dentist, or the dental coordinator, shall provide public reports to the Pitt County Board of Health and other Community groups, Health Centers and professional organizations.
Breakdown of Duties
CLINICAL CARE -Provide all routine dental care for children from early childhood to age 21, for pregnant women with dental emergencies, for adults of all ages. A complete oral examination and analysis of oral growth and development is done and plan of treatment is established and discussed with parents/guardians. Clinical procedures provided include fillings (restorations), simple extractions, cleaning, topical fluoride application, placement of plastic sealants, and restoration of fractured teeth, root canal treatment, necessary x-rays and others as indicated. Emergency dental care, usually unscheduled, is provided for the relief of pain and/or infection and is done during the course of the day while treating other patients. It is necessary to provide needed emergency services within a short time frame - usually the same day services are requested. The dentist must make valid assessments of conditions under which referral to a specialist is warranted, and assist the family in making the referral. Under appropriate conditions, the dentist will prescribe medications to treat patient or prepare for treatment. Dental records must be documented accurately to manage risk, provide continuity of care, and assure quality of care. Working with the Administrative Assistant, maintains an accurate inventory to assure adequate supplies necessary for patient treatment and assures that timely maintenance is conducted on all dental equipment, including air compressor, x-ray processor, x-ray machine, HVAC, hand pieces, dental console unit, and other major equipment.
INFECTION CONTROL-Strict adherence to infection control procedures is essential in clinical services. The dentist is responsible for her or his own actions and those of the dental staff in preparing the instrumentation, adapting engineering modifications, placing protective shields and barriers, cleaning the site and instrumentation with appropriate chemical sterility, and other procedures required by OSHA, CDC, and American Dental Association blood borne pathogen guidelines.
BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT-The management of children's behavior during dental procedures is an essential component of the position, since many child patients are uncooperative due to their age, fear, or misunderstandings. The management of behavior is achieved through psychological processes, behavior modification techniques, physical restraint, and/or sedative. Children who are uncooperative in a dental environment require a great deal of individual counseling/training by the dentist so that the future behaviors are established that will allow the child to accept dental care more readily throughout the rest of his/her life.
MEDICAL HISTORY AND PATIENT COMPLEXITY-The dentist is responsible for reviewing the patient's medical and dental historic to assure that all necessary precautions are taken to minimize the risk of any untoward results of treatment. The dentist must treat patients with complex medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, asthma, allergic, and cardiac conditions.
CONSULTATION - Serves as a dental/oral health consultant to the Health Department staff, school nurses, and other community health care providers. Advice given by the dentist may involve an assessment of a patient's dental condition, assessment of oral pathological finds, review of current dental and scientific literature to assure accuracy and consistency of information, assessment of need for medications such as anti-inflammatory, analgesics, controlled substances, steroids and others related to dental care.
EDUCATION - Provides educational programs to Pitt County staff and the public as well as to individual clients seen in a clinic setting. Public presentations are made for civics groups, school students, school faculty, to nursing home staff and residents, religious groups and others. The dentist may provide technical advice to staff related to the preparation and dissemination of dental health education. Work with the program assistant to market the Pitt County dental clinics.
SCREENING - May conduct screening and referral services on-site at schools or in Pitt County Clinics. Assesses the oral condition of individuals and communicates their dental needs to them or their parents. Collects statistics related to the oral condition for epidemiological review and analysis.
SUPERVISION - Supervises dental hygienists and dental assistants, including reviewing and signing their time and travel forms, approving leave, and conducting their annual performance reviews. Works with Health Director to recruit and hire new staff. Provides supervision to dental assistant and dental hygiene students on rotation in clinic.
MANAGEMENT - Implements program objectives. Reviews and approves purchase orders for dental equipment and supplies. Writes policies and procedures used by clinical staff in the treatment of patients. Helps write grants and is responsible for implementing funded dental grant projects. In coordination with Clerical Supervisor, monitors the annual budget and makes recommendations for equipment purchases and other major changes during budget preparation time in the spring. Assures that infection control and other dental policy manuals are maintained. Conducts quality assurance audits periodically.
OTHER POSITION CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Accuracy Required in Work:
Accuracy is extremely important in all aspects of this position, but especially so in areas of direct patient care. Employee's work and decision-making have a direct effect on the client population served.
2. Consequence of Error:
Employee's decision making could have a substantial impact on the clients served and the services rendered. Errors could lead to litigation, improper treatment, inaccuracies in the delivery of care, noncompliance with regulatory bodies and could have a substantial financial impact on the agency.
3. Instructions Provided to Employee:
Administrative instructions and guidelines are provided by the District Health Director. Professional and technical guidelines may be provided by the NC State Board of Dental Examiners.
4. Guides, Regulations, Policies and References Used by Employee:
Pitt County Policy Manuals, NC Statutes, professional standards of care, EPA regulations, American Dental Association recommendations, and OSHA and CDC Guidelines.
5. Supervision Received by Employee:
Work is reviewed periodically in conferences with Health Director.
6. Variety and Purpose of Personal Contacts:
Consult with, advise, and present information to Health Director. Supervision of dental program staff. Consultation with other health care providers. Diagnosis and treatment of patients and education of patients' families. Collaboration with other health care providers. Education of public.
7. Physical Effort:
Physical effort is required in adjusting dental equipment in the unit and managing combative, uncooperative patient behavior. Employee is expected to practice good body mechanics while working.
8. Work Environment and Conditions:
Employee is not exposed to the elements as work is indoors in a physically comfortable environment. Exposed to hazardous chemicals and noxious substances. Risks exposure to HIV, AIDS, hepatitis and other blood borne diseases.
9. Machines, Tools, Instruments, Equipment, and Materials Used:
Dental equipment, instruments, supplies, computer, telephone, and x-ray equipment
10. Visual Attention, Mental Concentration, and Manipulative Skills:
All of the above are important for the performance of this job.
11. Safety for Others:
Infection control, proper fluoride use, and patient safety are the direct responsibility of the dentist.
12. Dynamics of Work:
The practice of dentistry changes and advances continuously. Regulatory policies and procedures and new knowledge and technology require continued education and program changes.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
Must have clinic dental skills necessary to provide routine pediatric dental treatments. Sufficient medical, physiological and pharmacological knowledge to manage the dental treatment of children safely. Knowledge of preventive dental techniques, especially use of fluoride. Knowledge of dental health problems in the community. Ability to supervise both professional and sub-professional staff. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in write with employees, other health care professionals, educators, and the public and be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professionals and organizations within the state.
Ability to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgment in appraising situations and making decisions; ability to speak effectively and communicate department goals to community groups and other providers in a positive manner; ability to secure the cooperation of clients, to elicit needed information, and to maintain effective working relationships; ability to record accurately the services rendered to and to interpret and explain records, reports, and medical instructions.
1. Required Minimum Training:
Licensed to practice dentistry in the State of North Carolina and one-year experience in the practice of dentistry.
2. Additional Training/Experience:
Preferred but not required: pediatric dental experience and/or public health training, minimum one experience in clinical dentistry.
3. Equivalent Training and Experience:
None
License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:
Current license to practice Dentistry in North Carolina by NC Board of Dental Examiners.
Current CPR Certification
Active NC Driver’s License
Requirements
1. Required Minimum Training:
Licensed to practice dentistry in the State of North Carolina and one-year experience in the practice of dentistry.
2. Additional Training/Experience:
Preferred but not required: pediatric dental experience and/or public health training, minimum one experience in clinical dentistry.
3. Equivalent Training and Experience:
None
License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:
Current license to practice Dentistry in North Carolina by NC Board of Dental Examiners.
Current CPR Certification
Active NC Driver’s License