Dental Director

Job Summary

The Dental Director provides direct acute primary oral health care services including diagnosis, treatment, referral, and follow-up to eligible Indian and Alaska Native beneficiaries.

Incumbent will provide supervision and direction to dental staff. In conjunction with the KIC Health Administrator, determines the most appropriate range and depth of dental programs ensuring strict compliance with AAAHC standards and federal regulations.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

Personnel Management

• Directs personnel management for consistency in the programs and services of the KIC Dental Department. Monitors and approves staff development and training standards. Ensures the personnel policies are followed, interprets policy and monitors personnel actions for adherence to Tribal policy. Monitors staff evaluations process and annual employee safety programs. Ensure adhere to local, state or federal standards for employee training, specifically, HIPAA compliance, safety, workplace violence, and preventing sexual harassment.
  

+ Recruits, selects, orientates, trains, coaches, counsels, and disciplines the department staff;

+ Recommends all hiring, promotions, salary increases, merit increases, transfers, discipline and removal of all department employees per Tribal personnel policy to the Health Administrator.

Financial Oversight

• Monitors and enforces internal financial policies and procedures regarding the Dental Department budget. Coordinates with Health Administrator in the preparation of the annual budget. Complies with federal regulations outlined in the self-governance compacts, and other state and federal funding sources.
  
• Administers the approved department operating budget by monitoring expenditures and recommending justifiable changes to the Health Administrator.
  

Maintains AAAHC Accreditation Standards By:

• Recognizing and supporting the basic human rights of patients;
  
• Acknowledging the governing body that sets policy;
  
• Assuring the provision of high-quality health care services that fulfills the Tribe�s mission, goals, and objectives;
  
• Providing high quality health care services in accordance with the principles of professional practice and ethical conduct, and with concern for the costs of care and for improving the community�s health status;
  
• Striving to improve the quality of care and to promote more effective and efficient utilization of facilities and services;
  
• Maintaining a clinical records and health information system from which information can be retrieved promptly;
  
• Striving to improve the professional competence and skill, as well as the quality of performance, of the health care professionals and other professional personnel it employs;
  
• Providing a functionally safe and sanitary environment for its patients, personnel, and visitors.
  

KICTHC Dental Department Policy System

• Responsible for establishing and maintaining KICTHC Dental Department and administrative policies. Ensures policies are in compliance with accreditation standards and state, federal, funding laws, and regulations. Develops policies as needed for programs and services. Monitors the policy review process and interprets policy and procedures for efficient operations. Attends the Policy Committee of the Tribal Council when KICTHC Dental policies are being reviewed.
  
• Initiates, coordinates, and enforces program, operational, and personnel policies and procedures with ethical business practices.
  

KICTHC Dental Service Equipment

• Inspects and evaluates the physical condition of the patient care area, recommending necessary changes to Maintenance to improve sanitation, appearance, and efficiency. Develops operations, quality, and troubleshooting procedures. Arranges Bio-medical instrument performance certification and equipment replacement, service, and repair as necessary.
  

General Job Functions

• Complete preliminary examination, review patients� medical and dental histories, examine the teeth and periodontium for evidence of plaque and periodontal disease, interpreting radiographic studies, and develops treatment plan for optimal oral health. Records all findings in patient dental record.
  
• Perform professional dental duties in connection with the treatment of commonly encountered dental disease or dental health problems requiring standard corrective, restorative or preventive measures, including Operative Dentistry, Oral Diagnosis, Periodontics, Oral Surgery, Pedodontics, Endodontics, Fixed and/or Removable Prosthodontics, Orthodontics Oral Medicine, Operative Dentistry, and Dental Prevention.
  
• Fabricates temporary restorations, clean and polish removable appliances, place, carve, and finish restorations, and removes cement from crowns and bridges to maintains patient esthetics and function.
  
• Prepare patient treatment plans, including problem assessment and required oral hygiene care, as well as nutrition assessment and counseling and restorative and rehabilitative care possible with available resources. Recognize and refer patients for specialty treatment as required.
  
• Educates patients in the nature of their oral health conditions and recommends therapies as well as the general promotion of oral health and disease prevention. Gives postoperative instructions and prescription medication notice as needed.
  
• Provides emotional and psychological support to patients, friends and families throughout entire process.
  
• Maintains Dental Guidelines by writing and updating policies and procedures;
  
• Being accessible to staff for consultation as needed.
  
• Maintain partnership with other dental organizations at local, state, and national level.
  
• Recognize, identify, and resolve problems and issues without direct supervision.
  
• Prepare monthly report to supervisor.
  
• Provide instruction to other employees of this or similar job classification in all aspects of procedure and technique relating to the duties required by this job description unless such instruction requires a specialized certification which the employee doing the training does not have.
  
• Other related duties as assigned.
  

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge to gather, organize, and analyze information for dental operations and personnel.
  
• Knowledge of AAAHC Accreditation requirements.
  
• Knowledge and ability to carry out rules of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects patient rights.
  
• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and electronic patient software application skills.
  
• Skills in conceptual thinking and orderly planning in the diagnosis treatment of patients.
  
• Ability to exercise mature judgment in working with patients to allow for good communications and dentist-patient relationships.
  
• Ability to work effectively with dentists, hygienists, and dental assistant staff.
  
• Ability to perform consistently from day to day and under unusual stress.
  
• Ability to analyze complex situations efficiently.
  
• Strong understanding and sensitivity to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal culture and lifestyle, working effectively with AI/AN populations.
  
• Effective oral and written communication skills with sensitivity to the lifestyles of targeted participants.
  
• Skills in operating personal computers using a variety of computer software.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with management, coworkers, and outside contacts.
  
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and comply with all applicable federal and tribal privacy laws and KIC policy (HIPAA, HITECH, etc.).
  
• Ability to learn and apply program/agency operating policies and procedures.
  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks concurrently and meet deadlines.
  
• Ability to work independently as well as with teams.
  

KIC Competencies

Cultural Competency: To be respectful and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of KIC Tribal Members. Developing cultural competence is an evolving, dynamic process that takes time and occurs along a continuum.

Commitment: To serve Tribal Members and set a high standard for yourself in your performance; strive for results and success; convey a sense of urgency and bring issues to closure; and stay persistent despite obstacles and opposition.

Customer Service: Meet/exceed the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identify, understand, and monitor the needs of both internal and external customers; always talk and act with customers in mind; and recognize working colleagues as customers.

Effective Communication: Ensure important information is passed to those who need to know; convey necessary information with respect, clearly and effectively orally or in writing

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrate a high level of conscientiousness; hold oneself personally responsible for one's own work; and do the required fair share of work.

Working Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and sit. The employee is frequently required to walk, sit, climb, or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. The noise level in the work environment is usually high. Frequently required to work extended hours. Attending evening and lunch time meetings as requested by supervisor. Traveling occasionally, using air and/or water transportation, to out-of-town meetings and functions.

Conditions of Hire

• May be required to possess and maintain a valid driver's license or capable of obtaining one, as well as be insurable by KIC�s company insurance.
  
• KIC is a Drug-Free Workplace. All employees must adhere to KIC drug and alcohol policies and procedures to ensure a safe workplace. Employees must pass a pre-employment and subsequent random and/or for-cause drug and alcohol screening to be eligible for and maintain employment.
  
• KIC has several positions that must comply with the P.L. 101-630 Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Protection Act (ICPA); all employment offers in the "covered" classification are conditional until KIC has received a Federal criminal background check verifying eligibility to work in these programs.
  

This Job Description describes the essential duties and qualifications. It is not an exhaustive statement of all the job duties, responsibilities, or qualifications; management has the exclusive right to alter or add to this job description at any time without notice. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional related duties as assigned.

Minimum Education & Experience Required

• Education: Degree in dental surgery (DDS) or dental medicine (DMD) from an accredited dental school required. Additional requirements include:
  

+

Approved internship; approved residency - Training in a hospital dental internship or residency approved by the Council on Dental Education on the American Dental Association;

+

Graduate-level study - Either dental graduate study leading to an advanced degree such as Master of Science or postgraduate (non-degree) dental school study involving a level of instruction comparable to that provided in a graduate degree program;

+

National Certifying Board - A examining board in a special area of dental practice recognized by the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association;

+

Board Eligibility - Qualification for examination by a national certifying board as a result of having met the advanced training program requirements for a dental specialty.

• Progressive responsible administrative/management experience that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform duties of this position.
  
• Minimum three (3) years clinical experience in general dentistry.
  
• A combination of relevant experience, education, and training may substitute for education and experience requirements on a year-for-year basis.
  
• Incumbent must be licensed to practice dentistry in any of the fifty (50) U.S. states, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico. For direct Tribal hire, employee must have a permanent, full and unrestricted State of Alaska professional Dentist license.
  
• Proof of valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.
  

Preferred Education & Experience

• Three (3) years of clinical supervisory experience in general dentistry.
  
• Extensive experience in leadership is highly preferred.
  
• Experience in community clinic preferred and a strong commitment to multi-disciplinary teamwork.