Job Summary:

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position. The CDA/Billing & Booking Clerk, Team Lead provides work direction and training to designated staff including Billing & Booking Clerks and CDAs and performs related administrative functions.  Performs booking function by scheduling, booking  and admitting patients for dental operating room and in dental clinic. As needed, performs Certified Dental Assistant duties as outlined by the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1.    Coordinates the workflow of designated clinic by supervising staff, and performing duties such as assigning tasks, establishing priorities, scheduling and assigning work assignments and ensuring completion, providing input regarding performance evaluations, and determining related training and orientation requirements.   Follows up with the Manager as required.

2.    Assembles pertinent patient information such as patient charts, x-rays and laboratory reports prior to appointments and ensures Receptionist/Billing Clerk receives follow-up schedule form and applicable billing information for entry into computer.
3.    As required, ensures operating room forms are completed and submitted to the operating room for booking purposes by reviewing chart dates and labels, ensuring insurance coverage/financial details are updated,.  Corresponds with the client regarding date and time of procedure and pre-operative instructions.
4.    As required, schedules/books client appointments by receiving request, making follow up appointment as required,.
5.    Receives patients and prepares them for consultation and treatment documenting new patient medical and dental history, seating and draping individual for scheduled treatments and sterile procedures, transferring wheelchair patients into chair, explaining dental work procedures, post-operative care and oral hygiene instructing and answering related questions.
6.    Sets up all necessary equipment and supplies for dental procedure in the Dental clinic and Operating Room (OR) by ensuring availability of required equipment and supplies and arranging as specified for reach OR case.
7.    Assists professional staff, including Dental Specialists, in the performance of various procedures by methods such as passing instruments, maintaining sterile fields, placing and removing rubber dams and clamps as well as suctioning and retraction.
8.    Performs Certified Dental Assistant duties such as obtaining cultures, applying topical anticariogenic agents or fissure sealants, placing and removing matrices and wedges, mixing and placing material, taking study model impressions pouring and trimming impressions, applying desensitizing agents, polishing clinical crowns of teeth with rubber cup, brush or polishing pastes, removing sutures and placing medicated dressings as required as well as providing instruction in the use and maintenance of partial and complete dentures and other appliances in accordance with the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia rules and regulations for  a Certified Dental Assistant.
9.    Monitors patient’s general well-being while assisting Dentist/Specialist in providing dental care by checking vital signs, i.e. pulse, temperature, blood pressure, as well as signs of allergic reactions and/or anxiety syndromes during treatment.
10.    Prepares patient’s estimate of cost for dental procedures by itemizing all procedures codes for specific treatment and obtaining patient`s/Dentist`s signature as required.  Follows up as necessary to verify client eligibility for hospital programs coverage and/or funding/insurance coverage by sending enquiries to reference sources.
11.    Provides education to patients, residents and families preoperatively to prepare them for their procedure and post-operative car, as well as to advise them of the costs associated with the procedure when applicable.
12.    Regularly maintains and performs minor repairs on dental equipment by cleaning chairs, bleaching suction lines, changing light bulbs, oiling hand pieces and arranging for further repairs as required so equipment is kept functional.
13.    Performs regular maintenance duties to ensure proper functioning of all dental equipment. Daily duties include flushing water lines to remove disinfecting solutions, , weekly maintenance functions include testing x-ray consistency cleaning suction traps in each operatory and in the main suction traps and monthly maintenance function involve changing glutaraldehyde bath.
14.    Prepares the operatories and equipment by organizing necessary clinic dental trays, disinfecting all equipment used, preparing instruments for sterilization and either sending to Sterile Supply for sterilization or using cold sterilizer and autoclave to complete sterile processing.
15.    Processes intra and extra oral radiographs by taking photographs, developing and labeling film for Dentist’s examination and filling in patients chart.
16.    Conducts patient/resident chart audits and completes required/necessary forms to ensure quality standard record keeping and compliance with Dental Accreditation standards.
17.    Monitors dental supply inventories by checking consumable items are stocked and notifying Dental Inventory Analyst of products requiring re-stocking.
18.    Performs general clerical functions such as preparing requisitions for dental and medical laboratory tests and contacting medical/dental offices and/or insurance companies for patient related information.
19.    Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience

•    Graduation from a recognized Certified Dental Assistant program plus four year’s recent, related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
•    Current British Columbia license as a Certified Dental Assistant.

Skills and Abilities

•    Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
•    Ability to deal with others effectively.
•    Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
•    Ability to supervise.
•    Ability to organize work.
•    Ability to operate related equipment.