Dental Hygienist - St. Claire Regional Medical Center

Position Summary:
Under general supervision of the Dentist in primary care setting, assesses patient needs, and plans and delivers direct dental care and associated services to patients as allowed under the Kentucky Dental Practice Act. Utilizes established dental hygiene protocol and procedures. Participates in the development and implementation of a type 2 diabetes and oral health intervention program, the Kentucky Diabetic Oral Health Collaborative, coordinating and reporting research activity for patients from all St. Claire HealthCare primary care center sites involved in the program.

Duties/Responsibilities:
• Treats patients of St. Claire HealthCare and its designated sites in a diligent, knowledgeable and skillful manner in accordance with acceptable standards of practice in his/her professional specialty, applicable state and federal laws, and JCAHO standards.
• Performs the duties specified herein at St. Claire HealthCare or at other designated sites provided by the hospital.
• Under general supervision of dentist, provides scope of dental care as allowed under the Kentucky Dental Practice Act.
• Complies with all policies, rules and regulations of St. Claire HealthCare which are applicable to his/her duties.
• Stays current and complies with regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Works in team environment with Primary Care dental, medical, and administrative personnel.
• Provides effective patient education to maintain good oral hygiene for all patients, including patients involved in research studies.
• Takes initiative to learn clinical research protocols.
• Manages all research data associated with the dental research programs participated in by St. Claire HealthCare.
• Participates in and successfully completes required research training (IRB/HIPPA).
• Utilizes computers to collect and transmit data.

Education:
Associate degree from an accredited dental hygiene program.

Experience:
As required for certification/licensure by the Kentucky Board of Dentistry. Two years of experience with a minimum of three thousand (3,000) hours of dental hygiene practice experience required.

Licensure/Certification:
Current license as a Dental Hygienist in Kentucky plus Kentucky Board of Dentistry certification to practice when the dentist is not physically present (general supervision certification) required. CPR or BLS certification required.

Physical/Work Requirements:
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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is required to communicate effectively. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision for reading and computer work. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 pounds.

The work environment described here is 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in an area with good lighting and climate control. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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