Dental Sterilization Float (Dental Assistant 2)

Job Description

The School of Dentistry has an outstanding opportunity for a Dental Assistant 2 to join their team.

The Office of Clinical Services (OCS) at the School of Dentistry encompasses the Patient Registration Patient Intake, and Patient Relations offices, Simulation Clinic and Labs, Central Sterilization, and two dispensaries. OCS supports the operations of 13 dental clinics in delivering dental care to the state’s largest and most diverse patient population. We utilize a team-oriented approach and work very hard to delight our patients.

The UW School of Dentistry (UWSOD) has an outstanding opportunity in Central Sterilization for a Dental Assistant 2 (DA2). This role is commonly referred to as Dental Assistant - Sterilization Float.

Reporting to the Clinic Manager, the person in this position will be primarily based at Main Sterilization in the Health Sciences building on the main UW campus and will float as needed to the Magnuson Sterilization location, which is located our Sandpoint facility and houses the Center for Pediatric Dentistry, Northwest Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Dental Faculty Practice.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities at Main Campus Sterilization:

• Conduct entire sterilization cycle for all School clinics; debride, perform quality checks, replace instruments as necessary, wrap and sterilize items, following pre-sterilization and sterilization protocols.
• Utilize scanning software system to monitor the distribution and flow of instruments, hand pieces, and other patient care items to maintain strict infection control protocols.
• Operate autoclaves, washers, and other sterilization equipment; conduct biological testing of equipment.
• Maintain hand piece, cassette, bur, impression tray, and spore testing logs; Notify parties of discrepancies and report any ongoing problems to Manager.
• Store sterile and disinfected set-ups in preparation for delivery to clinics and students.
• Using the instrument ordering software, coordinate the pick-up and delivery of instruments to clinics.
• Perform basic calculations related to verifying sterilizer functions and inventory control.
• Inspect, assemble, package, label and date instruments and cassettes.
• Enter inventory data using a computer terminal or a manual method.
• Place orders, as necessary.
• Keep all areas clean, orderly, and neat.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Responsibilities at Sandpoint Sterilization, Sandpoint Campus:

• Check instruments and cassettes in and out, keeping detailed records of all assets.
• Maintain and operate autoclaves and sterilization equipment; disinfect items and follow pre-sterilization and sterilization-established protocol. Duties include scrubbing, ultrasonic operation, drying, sorting, resetting, packaging and labeling instrument setups.
• Assemble dental instrument packs.
• Store sterile and disinfected set-ups in preparation for delivery to clinics and providers.
• Coordinate the pick-up and delivery of student and school-owned instruments.
• Monitor school-owned instruments for breakage and wear; assess replacement needs.
• Maintain the daily log of school-owned instruments and equipment checked in and out to students, staff, and faculty on a daily basis. Notify parties when items are missing.
• Monitor and maintain hand pieces sterilization log.
• Perform weekly spore testing on autoclaves and other sterilizers.
• Keep all areas clean, orderly, and neat.
• Provide excellent customer service to faculty, staff, and students.
• Verify correct sterilization cycles.
• Perform basic calculations related to verifying sterilizer functions and inventory control.
• Inspect, assemble, package, label and date instruments and cassettes.
• Enter inventory data using a computer terminal or a manual method.
• Place orders as necessary.
• Complete sterilization training program administered by the School of Dentistry.
• Check in dirty instruments, logging hand pieces in and out, filling instrument request orders and delivering instruments to clinics.
• Conduct infection control protocols in compliance with OSHA & SOD infection control regulations.
• Perform additional sterilization duties as assigned