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Surgical Assistant

Summary/objective
The role of a Surgical Assistant is to assist their specialist in the clinical setting. Their main priority is to ensure excellent patient care, maintain safety standards, and be the “right-hand” of their Doctor. This job description outlines the essential functions of the Surgical Assistant position and the core performance areas the Surgical Assistant position is held accountable to.

Essential functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Patient Care

  • Welcomes patients and get them situated in the appropriate treatment room.
  • Reviews patient health histories and documents all medications, medical conditions and alerts the doctor to any abnormalities.
  • Obtains and documents patient’s vital signs and alerts doctors to any abnormalities.
  • Obtains, documents, and updates patient dental history, as well as overall health and medication history.
  • Takes and develops x-rays, photos and CBCTs and uploads into patient charts as appropriate.
  • Performs the setup and breakdown of all operatory equipment, instruments, and documents on time, to meet regulatory and compliance requirements and to keep the doctor on schedule with daily patient care.
  • Assists the doctor during a variety of treatments, exams, procedures.
  • Actively delivers a positive patient experience by striving to keep patients focused on the best possible treatment.
  • Educates patients in oral care and ensures the sterility of instruments and operatory before subsequent patients arrive.
  • Is proficient in educating patients in all practice procedures, exams, and procedures.

Clinical Support
  • Actively participates in daily morning huddles for schedule review and ensure a smooth productive day.
  • Assists the doctor during a variety of treatments, exams, procedures.
  • Is proficient at (1) entering all patient documentation into the Electronic Dental Record for legal compliance, review, and Doctors’ signoff (2) preparing accurate, complete and professional treatment plans for procedures, scheduling, and insurance benefits coordination (3) scanning all required paperwork into the patients’ charts.
  • Prepares tables and trays for dentist with necessary instruments and supplies.
  • Cleans and sterilizes instruments and prepare treatment rooms as needed.
  • Ensures appropriate supply of equipment and materials.
  • Is proficient at solely working a Doctors schedule of surgeries, exams, and patient procedures.
  • Assists hygienist with patient care whenever necessary.
  • Enters accurate and complete treatment plans for review and presentation by the treatment coordinator.
  • Directs doctors accordingly to maximize efficiency and minimize downtime.
  • Assists doctor in educating patients to encourage patient case acceptance.
  • Assesses and professionally addresses any patient questions and/or concerns and manages patient care while under the direct care of the surgical assistant.
  • Is proficient and professional when handing off patients to the front office staff (following exams and procedures) to ensure patient scheduling of procedures.
  • Is proficient at performing patient chart reviews following standard operating procedures as well as collaborating and obtaining patient documentation as mandated for surgical procedures and patient medical conditions.
  • Maintains a smooth patient workflow with the front office staff and clinical teams to promote timely and exceptional patient experience visits.
  • Maintains and keeps organization within all practice electronic records systems.
  • When time allows, assists front desk staff.
  • Maintains the surgical site and anticipates chairside surgical assisting protocol in a proficient and competent manner.
  • Is willing to provide On Call responsibilities when needed from time to time.
  • Ensures surgical assistant Letters/Progress Notes are accurate and completed same day of patient’s appointments measured by daily checklists by the lead surgical assistant and doctor.
  • Collaborates with other office staff to improve and provide better patient care.
  • Mentors and trains other clinical staff.
  • Provides issue resolution and workflow recommendations for continuous process improvements to the lead surgical assistant.

Inventory Management
  • Demonstrates cost controls while stocking rooms, storing, and ordering materials and preparing and using dental materials during procedures and exams.

Periodontics
  • Implants: In conjunction with lead surgical assistant, maintains an excel spreadsheet on the secured server and provides appropriate paperwork to finance team for implant replacement reconciliation.
  • Regeneration Materials: In conjunction with lead surgical assistant, maintains an accurate, complete, and current excel spreadsheet of lot numbers by patient’s ID on the secured server for recall compliance purposes.
Endodontics
  • Maintain proper inventory of endodontic files, broaches, burs, etc.
  • Maintain endodontic equipment in proper working order.

Compliance
  • Maintains OSHA/WISHA standards, aseptic technique, and HIPPA according to compliance and programs.
  • Abides by all PPE standards for clinical staff.
  • Practices universal precautions and proper infection control.
  • Minimizes waste, fraud, and abuse.
  • Reports any hazardous situations to front desk staff.
  • Be knowledgeable of spill containment and clean up.
  • Abides by the allowable and prohibited duties for dental assistants as outlined by the state of Washington.

Competencies
  • Detail oriented.
  • Maintains confidentiality.
  • Provides a general knowledge base need to perform the job duties.
  • Exhibits professionalism: patience, communication skills, customer service.
  • Performs job duties with a positive attitude and dedication to working hard.
  • Provides support and cooperation when working with other to provide the best patient care.
  • Remains loyal, carrying out the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
  • Problem solver through critical thinking and providing solutions.
  • Proactive in identifying areas of opportunity and making the appropriate adjustments.
  • Demonstrates an expert level knowledge and skill set to properly execute the position duties.
  • Always performing their best work and leading others to do the same.


Supervisory responsibilities
None

Work environment
Clinical

Education and Experience
  • 2+ years of Dental Assisting experience required
  • 1+ years of Dental Assisting experience in a specialty (Perio, Endo, OS) preferred
  • High School diploma or general education degree (GED) required
  • Licensed as a Register Dental Assistant (RDA)
  • Current BLS required
  • Radiology certification preferred