About the position
For more than 50 years, First Choice Community Healthcare has provided access to high quality primary medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare to the underserved populations of the Mid-Rio Grande Valley of central New Mexico. Today, we operate five (5) Community Health Centers and one (1) school-based clinic. We are currently recruiting for a Dental Hygienist, RDH to join our team and assist in fulfilling our organizations mission, which is to improve the health, life skills and wellbeing of all members of the communities we serve. Our health centers maintain an open-door policy, providing treatment regardless of an individual’s income or insurance coverage. As a non-profit organization, First Choice is a vital community resource in Central New Mexico. Not only does our organization provide the highest quality, comprehensive medical services, but we also address our patients’ emotional, social, and cultural needs.
Responsibilities
- Assesses dental condition and needs of patient; uses patient screening procedures, to include medical history review, dental charting, and perio charting; takes patient vital signs as required.
- Delivers direct patient care to patients as assigned, using established dental hygienist procedures; performs routine treatment procedures, such as cleaning, polishing, expose/develop x-rays, patient education, application of sealants and fluorides, and related procedures.
- Develops and implements individualized dental care plans for patients; performs patient education, discharge planning, and patient/family teaching under the supervision of a qualified dentist.
- Provides chair-side assistance to dentist in the performance of special tests, procedures, and complex treatments.
- Makes impressions of patients' teeth for study casts.
- Documents dental history or chief complaint; records and reports pertinent observations and patient reactions to dental staff, as appropriate; documents lab procedures and ensures follow up on results.
- Assists with or institutes emergency measures for sudden adverse developments during treatment of patients.
- Performs patient triage and initiates patient care as appropriate for walk-in patients.
- Assists in preparation of patient care areas, and in the patient admission, transfer, and discharge process, as required; prepares reports and assists as required with patient reception, telephone calls, routine triage, and other office duties.
- Scrubs instruments and prepares them for autoclaving.
- Sanitizes and disinfects operatory, sharpens instruments, and restocks with necessary materials, instruments, and supplies.
- Writes prescriptions for endorsement by the dentist and calls them into pharmacy.
- Triages emergency patients for the dentist.
- Participate in site and organizational quality assurance and improvement.
- Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene.
- Two years of experience in a clinic or community health setting is preferred.
- Bi-lingual English/Spanish is preferred.
- Current licensure as a Dental Hygienist in the State of New Mexico.
- NM Board Certified (Registered).
- Anesthesia License – Board Certified.
- CPR certification required within 6 months of hire.
Benefits
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Employee Assistance Program
- Life and AD&D Insurance
- Voluntary Life Insurance
- Identity Theft
- Retirement Savings -403(b)
- 10-20 days per service year (based on length of service)
- Sick Leave 64 hours per year
- 10 Paid holidays per year
- 40 hours of Educational Leave per year for full time employees
- $1500 per year for tuition reimbursement
