Dentist

Title:  Dentist

Department: Primary Care

Shift:  Full-time

Location:  5501 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60621 and 4009 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613

Heartland Alliance Health’s (HAH) mission is to transform healthcare for the most vulnerable – particularly people experiencing homelessness, mental illness or addictions, or struggling with multiple chronic illnesses – improving health for all and the well-being of our community.

Heartland Alliance Health is seeking a compassionate Part-Time Dentist to deliver high-quality dental care to individuals experiencing homelessness and participants in the Ryan White Program. The dentist in this position will work within a multidisciplinary team focused on improving access to care, provide dental services, including preventive, restorative, and urgent care, in a supportive environment, and help make a difference in the lives of vulnerable populations

 The Dentist provides quality oral health care services to special populations, emphasizing the prevention and treatment of disease.  The role of the Dentist in a community setting is a response to society's demand for accessible quality dental care services to all populations regardless of socio-economic status.  The Dentist is a licensed professional who manages actual and potential oral health problems.  The health conditions include common, complex and/or advanced orally related diseases needing continued supervision of the prescribed treatment plan.  The Dentist practices independently and interdependently by collaborating with physicians, dental specialists, and other health care providers.  The Dentist is ultimately responsible for the delivery of dental care within legal parameters established by the Illinois Dental Practice Act. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  

• Facilitates entry of the client into the oral health care system by assessing the primary oral health care needs, including eliciting comprehensive health histories, performing oral examinations, order and/or performing diagnostic tests, analyzing collected data to determine client health status and formulating a problem list (diagnosis.)
• Provides coordinated, continuous, and culturally competent oral health care to clients that span the health continuum through mutual goal setting and planned delivery of care.  Oral health care services are provided at the Heartland Alliance Health clinic sites, community and shelter outreach sites.
• Prescribes a variety of treatment modalities made available to the provider through Health Center’s resources to meet preventative oral health and disease needs of participants.     
• Collaborates with physicians and dental auxiliaries to assure that oral health instruction and counseling is provided.
• Manages and evaluates the plan of care, process, and outcome, and then modifies plan as needed.
• Coordinates services in conjunction with other team members to meet client's oral health care needs, and to ensure the continuity of care.
• Collaborate with other multi-disciplinary professionals and community agencies to provide high quality care, including referral to appropriate dental specialists, if indicated.  Providers are expected to continue follow up with those referred to dental specialist to monitor status of such referrals in the continuum of care for that individual to promote completion of treatment or completion of alternatives to care.
• Adheres to collaborative principles of respect and joint decision making when:

• providing clinical supervision of the oral health care delivered by the dental hygienist and dental assistant.
• consulting with health team members about managing the client treatment plan.
• following clinical practice standards (protocols) related to each oral health care provider’s role responsibilities

• Participates in quality improvement activities though protocol development, staff training and collaborative peer review by:

• developing oral health and joint practice protocols, identifying appropriate evaluative criteria for utilization of review activities and performing such reviews as indicated.
• evaluating care based on clinical standards through the quality improvement process.  Implements recommended changes and/or improvements to guarantee quality of care based on the evaluative process.
• completes data collection activities identified as necessary to be obtained for QA/QI measures.
• developing (or refining) and directing existing training modules for dental auxillary staff regarding patient care and safety.

• Assures access and continuity of care by providing call for after-hours emergency oral health coverage and follow-up at the primary treatment facility or at the client residence if necessary and feasible.
• Assumes the responsibility for professional development and contributes to the professional growth of others by:

• developing in-depth knowledge of daily program operations, policies, and procedures.
• acting as a preceptor in the orientation of new oral health personnel, dental students, and volunteers.
• serving as a consultant in specialized populations to other health care providers and community agencies.

• Seeks opportunities for community and professional outreach to maintain and increase client referral base.  Outreach activities can include, but are not limited to:

• providing training and presentations on oral care issues to multi-disciplinary professionals and community agencies.
• providing oral screening at health fairs or to other agencies.
• disseminate information about clinic and services provided to other agencies or health care professionals.
• participating in shelter based care activities to promote outreach of services to those who may be willing to utilize our services.

• Incorporates and disseminates research findings as a basis for practice and to improve health care outcomes.  Identifies clinical questions to be researched.
• Assumes the responsibility for maintaining competence in clinical practice by:

• engaging in mentor relationships with experienced oral health care providers and physicians to gain clinical expertise.
• developing and maintaining a client case load as clinical competence is achieved to enhance continuity of care and meet agency productivity standards
• participating in appropriate educational activities in order to maintain and increase competence.  

• Practices within legal and ethical guidelines established by the Dental Practice Act and the Dentist Code of Ethics.
• Adheres to professional standards as outlined by governmental bodies, the American Dental Association (ADA), private funding sources, agency plans/policies and Unit guidelines.  Participates in periodic evaluative reviews and/or in-house and external staff training to ensure that he/she understand and continues to adhere to such standards.  Initiates requests for assistance or guidance from Supervisor to address new issues or complex concepts affecting adherence to professional standards.
• Prepares the appropriate program reports to fulfill funding requirements as assigned.
• Documents comprehensive, accurate, and continual data on clients' records and program reports according to agency standards.
• Revenue generating position.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:                

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies.

• Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quantity - Meets productivity standards; Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity.
• Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education and/or Experience:  DDS or equivalent degree.
• Language Skills:  Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.   Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Mathematical Skills:  Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.  Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Reasoning Ability:  Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Certificates, Licenses, Registration: Unrestricted IL Dental License, IL Controlled Substance license and DEA License

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

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. 
• The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit and talk or hear. 
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

Heartland Alliance Health makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987.