Summary

The primary purpose if the position: The assistant Chief Dentist - Dental Service serves as a practicing Dentist who performs a full range of professional dental procedures in connection with the treatment of commonly encountered dental diseases or dental health problems requiring standard corrective - restorative - or preventive measures.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: Degree of doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine resulting from a course of education in dentistry
• The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed
• Approved schools are: (1) United States and Canadian schools of dentistry listed by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) - in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed
• (2) Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State - Territory - or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) - or the District of Columbia as qualifying for full and unrestricted licensure provided the licensure requirements include a written examination measuring science achievement and a performance examination measuring clinical competence
• Residency or Comparable Experience: Completion of an approved residency program in general practice or specialty - or comparable experience as a dentist actively involved in treating medically compromised patients
• Licensure and Registration: Dentists (Except Residents)
• Current - full - and unrestricted license to practice dentistry in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. - Puerto Rico) - or in the District of Columbia
• The dentist must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active - current licensure
• Residents (Independent and Integrated Programs)
• Graduates of approved United States and Canadian schools of dentistry must have a current - full and unrestricted license to practice dentistry in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia before the second year of VA residency - or - for integrated programs - meet any licensure - registration or other equivalent requirements established for residents of non-VA hospitals with which the VA facility is affiliated for training purposes
• The resident must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active current licensure
• English Language Proficiency: Dentists - including residents - appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d)
• Dentists in leadership positions must demonstrate outstanding professional ability in the practice of dentistry or a dental specialty - and healthcare administration - as well as the ability to guide the development and implementation of programs within their respective domain
• These would include - but are not limited to dental practice - professional standards - personnel issues - quality and performance improvement
• In addition to the above - Dentists in these roles must demonstrate effectiveness coordinating and managing interdisciplinary collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders to optimize the care of patients under their purview
• It is expected individuals in these roles serve on a full-time basis
• Preferred Experience: Completion of a GPR - AEGD program or 5 years experience in dentistry
• Experience with digital dentistry Experience in all aspect of general dentistry Familiarity with surgical procedures Knowledge of accreditation standards Leadership or Supervisor Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position may require potentially long periods of continued Light lifting under 15 pounds - Light carrying under 15 pounds - Straight pulling for .5 hours - Pushing for 1 hour - Reaching above shoulder - Use of fingers - Both hands required - Walking for 1 hour - Standing for 4 hours - Repeated bending for 3 hours - Both legs required - Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - Both eyes required - Depth perception - Ability to distinguish basic colors - Ability to distinguish shades of colors - Hearing (aid may be permitted)
• See VA Handbook and Directive 5019.

Duties

• The Assistant Chief - Dental Service shall be knowledgeable of all disciplines of clinical dentistry as listed below
• The Assistant Chief should also possess the expertise and competency to perform their specific scope of practice defined through the medical center credentialing and privileging process
• CLINICAL DUTIES a
• Patient Care: Clinical Dentistry is the practice of prevention - diagnosis - and treatment of diseases - injuries - and malformations of the teeth - jaws - and human oral cavity and its adjacent tissues and structures
• It is comprised of the following disciplines
• i
• Oral Surgery is the dental discipline that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions requiring surgical interventions including uncomplicated removal of teeth - recontouring of the alveolus - and other routine hard and soft tissue oral surgical procedures
• ii
• Prosthodontics is the dental discipline of making artificial replacements for missing parts of the mouth and jaw iii
• Periodontics is the dental discipline that deals with diseases of the supporting and investing structures of the teeth including the gums - cementum - periodontal membranes and alveolar bone
• vi
• Endodontics is the dental discipline concerned with diseases of the pulp
• v
• Orthodontics is the dental discipline dealing with irregular alignment/relationship of he teeth/jaw and their correction
• b
• Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization i
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures ii
• Completes annual mandatory Infection Control Training c
• Information Management i
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIP AA with written and verbal information
• ii
• Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws - federal regulations - VA statutes and policy - and VHA policy
• iii
• Protects the data from unauthorized release or from loss - alteration - or unauthorized deletion
• iv
• Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files - release of access codes - etc. - as set out in the computer access agreement
• d
• Patient Safety i
• Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position)
• ii
• Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients
• iii
• Participates in patient identification and time out per Joint Commission requirements
• iv
• Monitors patient condition during treatment - being alert for signs of physical distress
• Completes annual mandatory patient safety courses
• e
• Employee Education i
• Complies with Employee Education requirements of 40 hours/year
• ii
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions per medical center policy
• iii
• Continuing Education will be identified - planned - supported - documented and validated for each Employee
• ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES a
• Is knowledgeable of and maintains Service compliance with a) VHA Handbooks and Directives - b) VISN Policies - c) Medical Center Memorandum and d) Service Policies and Procedures pertinent to dental clinic management
• b
• Is knowledgeable of regulatory requirements for VA dental residencies with an emphasis upon Resident Supervision
• c
• Is knowledgeable and capable for responding to Congressional inquiries regarding issues germane to the Dental Service
• d
• Is knowledgeable and in compliance with accreditation standards - including IG - Joint Commission - and other applicable survey/oversight entities
• i
• Is knowledgeable and in compliance with Safety and Environment of Care (EOC) standards and programs including the following: ii
• MSDS Requirements iii
• The Joint Commission EOC Standards iv
• Disposal of Hazardous Wastes v
• GEMS Program vi
• Facility Emergency Preparedness Plan vii
• Infection Control Guidelines for Dentistry including management of RME
• This is a supervisory position that develops performance metrics for all provider classification to drive performance and to direct desired behavior
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Available - Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54072-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized