Located halfway between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks and home to the University of Montana, Missoula is an academic center situated in an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Depending on the season, you can hike, ski, fish, float rivers, ride mountain bikes, or just sit back and marvel at the surrounding scenery. Join us in scenic, sophisticated, and service-oriented Missoula!

Partnership Health Center (PHC), 2019 and 2022 winner of the Employer of Choice Award for Missoula, and 2022 winner of the Montana Employer of Choice Award, offers impeccable, integrated services to over 16,000 individuals and families. A 7-site, co-applicant Federally Qualified Health Center with Missoula County, PHC fulfills its mission through the provision of a full range of primary care services – medical, dental, behavioral health, and an on-site pharmacy with a dedication to attending to the social determinants of health. Please visit our website to see the amazing benefits you will receive by joining our team such as medical (no cost for employee), dental, and vision insurance, loan forgiveness, retirement plan contributions, and generous paid sick and vacation time.

DEFINITION:

Performs dental assistant duties in a dental clinic for either Partnership Health Center or the Missoula County Detention Facility; and performs duties as a lead worker for Partnership Health Center Dental Clinic.

REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Serves as a lead worker for the dental assistants to coordinate daily duties and schedules, including setting lunch and break schedules. Provides lead direction to employees in the dental clinic; trains dental assistants and aids in assessing competency of essential duties.

Ensures proper infection control and OSHA compliance practices (including SDS sheets) are maintained.

Seats patient, reviews medical history, and prepares patient for dental work. Arranges appropriate dental instruments and materials for patient treatment. Assists in taking x-ray films

Assists the dentist and dental hygienist in performing patient services including: placing or removing rubber dam, applying topical drugs to patient as prescribed by dentist, placing or removing celluloid, plastic or metallic strips between patients’ teeth, providing suction/evacuation function as needed.

Sterilizes, cleans and maintains dental instruments and equipment.

Assists with maintaining patient charts, progress notes and records. Assists clerical support to schedule patient appointments.

Assists with maintaining dental supply inventories.

Assigns and oversees additional assistant duties including testing and maintaining autoclaves, maintaining eyewash station and other clinic equipment, and properly disposing of biohazard materials.

OTHER DUTIES:

Performs related work as required or directed.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:   Works under the direction of the PHC Dental Director.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Serves as a lead worker to coordinate scheduling, delegate tasks, and to train dental assistants.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:  Has numerous contacts with employees throughout Partnership Health Center, the Health Department, other county employees, medical bill payers, the general public and patients on routine and specialized matters for the purpose of giving or obtaining information and coordinating work efforts.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

KNOWLEDGE:  Considerable knowledge of dental office and chair-side dental assisting practices, procedures and techniques. Considerable knowledge of dental terminology and charting practices. Working knowledge of the principles and practices of dental health promotion and prevention. Working knowledge of department’s policies and procedures. Basic knowledge of Federal and OSHA regulations for dental clinics. Basic knowledge of the principles and practices of staff supervision.  Basic knowledge of County policies, PHC policies, and the provisions of relevant collective bargaining agreements. Working knowledge of the principles and practices of HIPAA compliance.

Working knowledge of the PHC Corporate Compliance Guidelines.

SKILLS:  Skill in the use of dental tools and dental equipment, including x-ray equipment.  Skill in the use of office computer technologies and software.

ABILITIES:  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse individuals and groups. Ability to facilitate a cooperative and productive team work environment. Ability to effectively communicate in the English language, orally and in writing with patients and coworkers. Ability to respect and maintain confidentiality. Ability to maintain a current CPR certification. Ability to work effectively in a dynamic clinic environment and to handle multiple demands and responsibilities.  Ability to motivate patients to maintain proper dental care. Ability to prepare and maintain charts, record logs, and reports.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION: Requires completion of a training program as a Dental Assistant (DANB certification). Requires current Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) certification.

EXPERIENCE:  Requires a minimum of two years of experience working as a dental assistant.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:  Requires a current Healthcare Professional BLS certification or the ability to obtain it within 90 days of hire.  Requires immunizations or proof of immunity to certain infectious diseases and a TB test.  New employees will be asked to volunteer vaccination status for required vaccines upon hire and will be offered assistance during hiring to receive necessary immunizations.  Employees who have not received the vaccines required for their positions or who are unwilling to voluntarily provide vaccination status for required vaccines will receive a reasonable accommodation where such accommodation does not require an undue hardship or endanger the health or safely of any person.

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS:
The work requires lifting of supply boxes in the medium range (up to 30 pounds). The employee may risk exposure to radiation due to taking and developing x-ray films. The employee may risk exposure to biohazards (ex. blood and disinfectant chemicals), and communicable diseases. Work is performed walking or standing much of the time. May work in the Detention Facility, which involves exposure to potentially dangerous persons and situations.

TO APPLY:

Please complete all sections of the online application, even if a resume is submitted.
Please include with your completed application the following attachments: Cover Letter addressing your leadership skills and experience, Resume, a copy of your Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) certification and BLS certification, a copy of certificate showing completion of Dental Assistant program, and a valid MT Driver’s License.
Incomplete applications and applications without the required attachments will be disqualified.
Complete job description available upon request to the Department of Human Resources.