Peak Vista Community Health Centers is a non-profit healthcare organization whose mission is to provide exceptional healthcare to people facing access barriers.  We provide primary care services (medical, dental and behavioral healthcare) through 26 outpatient health centers in El Paso, Teller, Lincoln, Adams, Elbert, and Kit Carson counties.  We deliver care with our strong “Hospitality” culture.  Our organization has over 800 employees and serves 90,000 patients in the Pikes Peak & East Central Plains region.  Peak Vista is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAAHC).

Pediatric Health Center using integrated health center model seeking Registered Dental Hygienist

Job Summary (Essential Functions)

Working in a medical-dental integrated setting. Provides a range of services to Children from preventive oral prophylaxis to dental sealants. Services may include, but are not limited to, routine oral prophylaxis, fluoride application, pit and fissure sealant, debridement, and patient education.
Supports integration of oral health within the Pediatric Health Center.
Conducts dental health clinics for community groups to augment services of dentist.

May be asked to work on the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.

Patient Population Characteristics

• Age.
• Language.
• Culture.
• Literacy level.
• Special needs.
• Unique challenges such as transportation, time off work, childcare, higher degree of oral health need, lower oral health literacy, lower socioeconomic status.

Medical-Dental Integration Dynamics

• Patient navigation: Work with the medical support staff and providers to facilitate the patient receiving dental hygiene services (scheduled visits and warm hand-offs); work with the patient and dental offices to facilitate the patient receiving restorative care.
• Mobility: Provide care in multiple locations (medical exam room, dental exam room, possibly other(s)).
• Self-support: Hygienist may need to sterilize his/her own instruments, arrange equipment maintenance, turn over the room between patients, charting, enter documentation of the appointment (progress notes) in dental software or paper chart.
• Network: Build and maintain relationships with dentists.
• Marketing/education: Support the practice in educating and recruiting patients to receive dental services.
• Billing: Understand and use knowledge of the hygienist CDT billable codes and frequencies to ensure optimal patient care and income generation.
• Health literacy: Educate patients and colleagues on the importance of oral health and how they can communicate that to patients as well.
• Administrative tasks: Scheduling, insurance verification, using computers/dental and medical software/emails/Word/Excel, order dental supplies and consumables, order dental equipment, maintain compliance with OSHA and other regulations, maintain updated MSDS sheets.
• Budgeting: Work with the budgeting restraints of safety-net clinics.

Personal Characteristics

• Pioneer: Willingness to work in a new environment.
• Can-do attitude: Says “yes I can”, takes initiative, is a problem solver.
• Learner: Collaborates and communicates with other professional disciplines, learns how to do quality improvement work.
• Cultural competency: Sensitive and responsive to how cultural characteristics affect the patient/provider interaction.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Language Ability:
Verbal and writing skills to properly communicate oral findings, treatment recommendations, and treatment provided. Ability to communicate with individuals and groups, providing oral health instruction. Bi-Lingual skills preferred.

Computer Skills:
Ability to use standard office computers and software for preparing routine reports, correspondence, and educational slide presentations. Familiarity with typical dental office practice management software, digital radiology, and electronic dental records.

Certificates and Licenses:
Certificate or Diploma from an ADA/CODA-Accredited Dental Hygiene program
Colorado Dental Hygiene License

*Successful candidates will complete pre-employment screening; which includes, but is not limited to a Criminal Background check. Peak Vista Community Health Centers is a drug and alcohol free workplace an an Equal Opportunity Employer.