Dental Hygienist

Overview

This position will support the US Department of Veterans Affairs Critical Staffing Program. The person in this position will represent International SOS Government Medical Services, Inc. and provide services outlined below:

Provide comprehensive dental hygiene care to Veterans within a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mobile dental clinic based out of White River Junction, Vermont. Deliver care as treatment‑planned by the supervising dentist; document services in the VA electronic health record (EHR); and comply with VA policies, infection‑control standards, privacy and security requirements, and pilot‑program processes.

Location:

163 Veterans Drive, White River Junction, Vermont 05001; mobile deployment to surrounding areas within Vermont. Facility:
White River Junction VA Medical Center.

• Operate the mobile dental clinic and ensure all equipment is functional and safely transported.
• Assist with setup and breakdown at various locations; park/store the clinic at the assigned White River Junction location to protect it from theft or damage.
• Lock the unattended mobile dental clinic except where prohibited by fire regulations or other directives.
• Abide by all vehicle traffic laws and accept responsibility for violations.
• Immediately notify the designated point of contact (POC) of issues so that repairs/maintenance can be performed promptly.
• Assist in maintaining inventory and reporting needed replacements.
• Assist with pre‑ and post‑appointment operatory preparations.
• Coordinate sterile processing of all reusable medical devices (RMD) with the Sterile Processing Service (SPS).
• Maintain and clean dental equipment, instruments, and assigned spaces in accordance with Office of Dentistry Infection Control Standards for VA Dental Clinics and applicable Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Joint Commission standards.
• Ensure proper handling and disposal of waste, sharps, and biohazard material.
• Do not use personal RMD or personal equipment in the care of Veterans.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure success of the pilot program.
• Attend and participate in team meetings and quality‑improvement initiatives as required.
• Assist with scheduling appointments and coordinating patient flow.
• Communicate effectively with Veterans and team members; document communications clearly and in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with VA dental staff to coordinate care that cannot be completed in the mobile clinic setting.
• Operate dental x‑ray equipment, evaluate image diagnostic quality, use imaging safety techniques, and securely upload images to the Veteran’s electronic dental record.
• Adhere to clinic guidelines and ensure documentation and processes comply with VA policies, standards, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements, and other regulatory requirements.
• Use VA EHR and VA dental EHR to record all patient documentation; ensure patient records are captured per VA policy; maintain strict confidentiality and privacy.
• Provide comprehensive dental hygiene care as treatment‑planned by the supervising dentist, consistent with the laws and regulations governing the dental practice act in the state of licensure.
• Perform: medical/dental/social history; vital signs; full periodontal assessment; dental hygiene assessment and charting; disease/treatment recommendations; denture care; routine and advanced prophylaxis; scaling and root planing; polishing; fluoride for caries prevention and hypersensitivity; capture and interpret radiographs; patient education (post‑procedure, tobacco cessation, caries and periodontal prevention); behavior management; management of stable medically compromised patients; instrument sharpening.
• Assist the dentist during examinations and procedures, as necessary.
• Assist in identifying pilot‑program inefficiencies; document and communicate process changes to internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist in developing and implementing quality‑control measures to ensure consistent, high‑quality treatment.
• Assist in preparing reports that summarize dental‑care activities and…