DENTAL DIRECTOR - Walton Family Health Center

About the Role

The Dental Director will assist in the development and implementation of the dental program, overseeing day-to-day administrative and clinical operations, including staff supervision, while providing comprehensive dental services to patients.

Responsibilities

Clinical

• Provides direct and comprehensive care, including oral exams, treatment planning, diagnosis, x-ray interpretation, operative/restoration, removable and fixed prosthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics/root canal therapy, periodontics, and preventive education.
• Refers patients to appropriate dental or medical specialties when indicated.
• Obtains medical and nursing consultation when necessary to address total patient needs.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date patient records.

Administrative/Managerial

• Provides consultations to CEO/Medical Director regarding the development (program and financial) of dental services.
• Develops and implements dental policies and procedures in accordance with State, Federal, and other regulatory bodies.
• Assures annual development, reassessment, and monitoring of dental goals and objectives that complement the Institute’s goals.
• Assists in the analysis of dental programs for the Institute’s other dental practices.
• Collaborates with IT staff to develop modules for the electronic medical record system specific to the dental program.
• Develops a dental quality improvement plan and ensures its integration into the organization’s QI Program.
• Maintains and compiles records and reports (e.g., federal 330 grant, Health Care Plans, QI).
• Participates in dental staff recruitment, selection, and orientation; ensures all dental staff have current job descriptions and are appraised for performance.
• Provides in-service training and other activities for continued growth and development of dental staff.
• Coordinates and leads dental staff meetings.
• Participates in committees as defined by the CEO/Medical Director.
• Remains current in dental practices and adapts new practices to the needs of the organization’s patients.
• Determines needs for change in the dental program based on patient and community needs and suggests plans consistent with organizational objectives and available funds.
• Assists CFO in the financial management of the dental program (e.g., fee schedule, collections).
• Collaborates with social services and other staff to provide community outreach for dental services and education.
• Supervises ordering of supplies and inventory.
• Supervises maintenance of dental equipment.

Age-Specific Competencies

• Identifies physical, behavioral, and emotional characteristics typical for the age group served (neonate/infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult, geriatric).
• Modifies approaches based on patient age-specific needs and responses to treatment.
• Provides care for patients based on age-specific needs.
• Uses communication techniques appropriate for the patient’s age.

Organizational/Managerial

• Maintains punctuality and satisfactory attendance.
• Dresses appropriately for the office.
• Demonstrates reliability, trustworthiness, and initiative.
• Manages time and resources to meet established goals within agreed-upon time frames.
• Demonstrates flexibility in accepting and completing work assignments.
• Participates in the department’s performance improvement activities.
• Maintains patient/employee confidentiality.
• Observes the Health Care System’s compliance policies.
• Contributes to a cooperative, friendly, and mutually supportive work environment.

Educational/Professional Development

• Participates in the development of other staff members.
• Meets regulatory, licensure, and annual health assessment requirements.
• Identifies learning strengths and needs and utilizes learning resources.

Communication/Relationships

• Demonstrates a professional, courteous, and respectful attitude in dealing with patients, families, and staff.
• Displays courtesy, tact, and patience during interactions with all members of the hospital staff and extended community.
• Answers telephones in an appropriate, professional manner.
• Assists patients in solving problems and refers them to the Dental Administrator or Director of Patient Services if needed.

Requirements

• D.D.S. or D.M.D. from an accredited dental school.
• Minimum of two (2) years' experience as a general dentist preferred.
• Demonstrated interpersonal, leadership, supervisory, clinical, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated interest in employment in a community health center.
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with dental electronic medical records preferred.
• NYS License required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
• Frequently required to climb or balance and talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.