Career Center

SUMMARY:

A dentist assesses and evaluates the oral health care needs of patients; performs selected diagnostic and therapeutic tasks; institutes and manages care for patients; and performs related work as assigned.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Takes patient histories and performs examinations of patients.
• Accurately assesses the clinical status of patients.
• Formulates clinical assessment based on clinical findings and prepares alternate treatment plans and estimates.
• Recommends and/or administers treatment or medications in accordance with standards of care.
• Provides and evaluates patient care according to adopted protocols and quality improvement program criteria.
• Educates patients regarding dental health and illness prevention. Recommends community resources to meet patient and family needs.
• Participates in on-going evaluation, quality improvement, required trainings, peer review, provider meetings and other clinical meetings.
• Supervises hygienist and dental assistant when requested.
• Participates in supervision, training and evaluation of support staff.
• Mentors peers and teaches students and residents when requested.
• Reviews and prepares protocols for use by staff.
• Maintains accurate, complete, concise, and timely documentation in the electronic medical record.
• Responds to patient or co-worker complaints and works toward a positive resolution of any dispute.
• Serves as member of site committees when requested.
• Identifies problems related to patient services and makes recommendations for improvement.
• Adheres to established clinical protocols, procedures, and attendance policy.
• Assists in updating clinical protocols and procedures when requested.
• Other duties and responsibilities as designated by supervisor.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to work as a member of a team in order to solicit input from other affected departments or individuals, communicate pertinent information to other team members, and support team decisions.
• Ability to be persuasive and diplomatic in encouraging teamwork and cooperation in the pursuit of excellence in service.
• Ability to communicate effectively and exercise sound and responsible judgment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, written and verbal. Ability to establish constructive working relationships with all levels of management and with patients and employees of varied and diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to handle difficult or confrontational situations in a calm, consistent, and equitable manner.
• Ability to read, analyzes, and interprets general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to effectively represent ODCHC’s interests in the community and maintain effective working relationships among co-workers, public, private, and professional groups.
• Basic computer skills in Windows environment, including email, internet, word processing and basic database usage.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:            

• Dental School.
• Residency training preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Current California dental license.
• Current DEA license.
• Current CPR.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Hygienist and dental assistant when requested.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This is largely a clinic-based position although office-based work is expected. The physical requirements described are representative of those needed to successfully perform the essential duties of the position. Reasonable accommodation will be made to allow otherwise qualified candidates to perform these functions.

• Speaking and hearing sufficient to communicate effectively by telephone, video or in-person at normal volumes.
• Vision adequate to read documents, computer screens, forms and designs and to differentiate colors as necessary.
• Good manual dexterity.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to use keyboard and view computer screens for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift and carry packages and boxes weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to move around offices and health centers as needed.

About Open Door Community Health Centers

Open Door Community Health Centers (ODCHC), a federally qualified health center established in 1971, is a network of 12 clinics in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties on California’s North Coast. ODCHC serves more than half of the area’s 160,000 residents. ODCHC is California’s largest provider of primary medical, dental and behavioral health care north of San Francisco.

Connections working at Open Door Community Health Centers