Dental Assistant

**Dental Assistant - Clinic Reception, La Ronge**:
**Primary Purpose**: This position provides primarily clinic reception/administrative support as well as clinical support to a diverse group of patients, students, staff, and dentists within a clinical outreach dentistry setting to support the delivery of patient care and the clinical student experience. The primary focus of the position is provision of clinic reception and administrative duties however will also provide dental assistant clinical support as operational needs require. The position is responsible for providing continuity of care and ensures timely, efficient, and effective service and contributes to an environment that values the beliefs, need, and contributions of a culturally diverse community.

**Nature of Work**: As a part of teaching and learning, the College of Dentistry has a strong commitment to patient and clinical experience for its students while serving our patients in an Inclusive and Culturally-appropriate manner. Reporting to the Director, Dental Therapy program, the Dental Assistant - Clinic Reception works with dental students, faculty, staff, and clinic patients to support the teaching, learning, and patient care functions from a coordination, administration, and technical perspective. The position provides excellent customer service to all and must have a good overall understanding of Clinic and College policies and processes to appropriately meet the needs of the faculty, students and patients. The Dental Assistant - Clinic Reception works in a blended clinical and multi-disciplinary student clinic setting with shifting priorities. Due to working in a busy clinical environment with frequent interruptions, this position requires the ability to multi-task with speed and accuracy as patient care and clinic income are directly affected. This position has little control of the work pace as pace is driven by clinic and student activity. Discretion is required as this position is privy to and works with sensitive and confidential patient information. The work must be done with a positive and pleasant demeanor, and will be performed with mínimal supervision.

The Clinic consists of 7 operatories with patient care provided by students from the Saskatoon Campus, rostered on three week rotations under the supervision of a staff dentist.

**Typical Duties or Accountabilities**:

- General reception and administration duties such as answering telephone calls; booking and confirming appointments; pulling and filing charts; mail opening, sorting, and distributing; ordering inventory; tracking and following up patient cancellations and no-shows.
- Financial duties including but not limited to: processing payments and deposits; arranging patient payment plans; tracking and following up on accounts receivable; and liaising with insurance companies.
- Coordinates schedules and activities for patient care and student learning
- Coordinate equipment maintenance and repairs between the clinic and support services
- Directly or indirectly support the delivery of patient and clinical care
- Assists patients by acquainting them with policies, procedures, costs relevant to their care and helping them navigate the system as necessary
- Provides chairside support to students, staff and faculty in dental procedures
- Uses and monitors the patient health record database to ensure students enter timely and accurate information and facilitating corrections as required
- Audits and reviews patient charts within their scope of practice to monitor patient progress and ensure proper protocol is being followed by students
- Attends regular meetings to ensure delivery of patient care and student experience is consistent within the clinic
- Facilitates patient referrals for specialty services
- Assist with student orientations and demonstrations
- Sterilizes, distributes and maintains dental instruments and equipment maintaining overall asepsis in clinical areas
- Updates policies and procedure manuals as directed
- Other duties as assigned

**Education**: Completion of Grade 12; and a current Registered Dental Assistant Level II license in Saskatchewan with knowledge of current infection control procedures is required. Ortho Training is an asset.

Within the first six months of employment in this position, the incumbent will be required to obtain: Accreditation in Infection Control and Safety; CPR and AED Certification; Biosafety Certificate; and WHMIS training, Culture Safety Training.

**Experience**: 3 - 5 years’ experience in clinical dentistry, with experience as a Dental Assistant is required. Experience working with the public in a busy environment is required. Experience in dental administration and digital imaging (intra and extra-oral) would be an asset. A combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.

**Skills**:

- Proven effective interpersonal and mentoring skills with the ability to build an effective, positive and respe