Position Summary
An oral surgery Surgical Assistant is responsible for, but not limited to, those tasks outlined below. This position is full-time with available patient hours from 8:30am EDT/EST through 4:30pm EDT/EST Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and, 8:30am EDT/EDT through 3:00pm EDT/EST Tuesday and Thursday. Compensation is hourly, starting at $23.00 to $26.50, with individual compensation offers commensurate with experience and seniority. The position requires full-time, in-office attendance at 4229 Bardstown Road, Suite 328, Louisville, Kentucky 40218, with no potential for remote work when the office is closed to patient clinic services. Working hours or available working hours may vary by pay period according to the patient schedule --- forty (40) hours per week is not guaranteed with this position; however, all attempts will be made by the practice to ensure no fewer than thirty-six (36) hours per week.
Position Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of this position are to oversee all clinical operations of the practice in addition to often serving as a surgical scrub technician for outpatient surgical procedures completed by Dr. Klemens. This description of responsibilities is divided into two sections to reflect the primary responsibilities and the secondary responsibilities of the Surgical Assistant position. The primary responsibilities of this position are:
Lead Surgical Assistant
- Manage and submit clinical supply orders to the Office Manager for approval; and, subsequently, manage proper storage and inventory management of received shipments, especially in accordance with the practice operational budget (managed by the Office Manager) and with state and/or federal regulations impacting the storage of certain clinical items, including medications, sharps, chemicals, etc.
- Oversee and/or manage completion of all required documentation, including: drug logs, autoclave testing and maintenance logs, ultrasonic cleaner maintenance log, eye wash station maintenance log, fire extinguisher testing log, refrigerator temperature control log, biopsy procedure log, implant placement log, and crash cart maintenance log
- Manage controlled substance ordering, storage, access, and documentation in accordance with DEA and OSHA regulations
- Assist the Office Manager in ensuring all clinical equipment is in good repair and receives proper and timely maintenance as required or indicated
- Lead morning team meetings with the front office team and operating surgeon(s) to ensure a competent plan of action for the current day’s schedule
- Lead training for all newly hired Surgical Assistants and support the Office Manager in completing scheduled performance reviews
- Demonstrate competent use of the practice management system (PMS) as required by this position and direction from practice and/or company leadership, and develop and maintain SOPs for clinical use of the PMS, ensuring that all functions of the system are up-to-date and properly trained with all clinical team members
- Manage bi-weekly timecard submission via Paylocity both for self and for hourly clinical team members, including review of any expenses submitted, e.g. mileage, petty cash reimbursements, as detailed in the Employee Handbook
- Attend all required training sessions, whether in-service, off-site, or virtual
- Attend all practice-wide and parent-company-level meetings as scheduled by Dr. Klemens or Forge Specialty Partners team
- Keep current with oral surgery industry best practices and standards, and adapt existing workflows and strategies to stay relevant
Surgical Assistant
- Capture radiographic imaging, including CBCT and Panoramic x-rays (may be subject to state law requiring a license to operate radiographic equipment)
- Use specialized equipment to complete specialized services, e.g. intraoral digital scanner, PRF/PRP centrifuge and cassette
- Provide pre- and post-operative care instructions to patients and/or chaperones as outlined by the Lead Surgical Assistant and/or operating surgeon(s)
- Assist in all surgical procedures as assigned by the Lead Surgical Assistant and/or operating surgeon(s)
- Place intravenous (IV) lines as indicated by the operating surgeon(s) (may be subject to state law requiring a license or certification to place IVs)
- Prepare, draw, and administer IV medications as ordered by the operating surgeon(s) (may be subject to state law indicating legally authorized personnel approved to manage and/or administer controlled substances)
- Act as a scribe to aid in case documentation, as requested or authorized
- Collect and document, or assist in the collection of, patient medical histories, including medical conditions, allergies, and medications to ensure a comprehensive patient history
- Execute exceptional patient care in accordance with practice standard operating procedures (SOPs), state and/or federal regulations, and direction from the surgeon(s)
- Ensure all operatories are properly stocked and set up prior to surgery and/or consultation
- Assemble surgical trays as required by the scheduled types of service in accordance with SOP
- Sterilize surgical equipment following use in accordance with both practice and company SOP, and federal regulations applicable to sterilization protocol, materials, or equipment
- Clean and/or sterilize operatories and consultation rooms following each appointment in accordance with practice and company SOP, and federal regulations applicable to maintaining a clean, healthy clinical environment for employees and patients
- Maintain a clean and organized sterilization laboratory and other clinical workspaces
- Uphold HIPAA and OSHA Compliance as directed by the Office Manager, Lead Surgical Assistant and/or managing surgeon(s); may extend to ensuring ACLS/BLS/PALS training is completed per state licensing requirements
In-practice Network
The Lead Surgical Assistant will report directly to the managing surgeon(s). It may also be appropriate that the Office Manager provides direction and upholds accountability in the absence of, or in addition to, the Lead Surgical Assistant for direct reports of the Lead Surgical Assistant. The Lead Surgical Assistant will work in conjunction with the Office Manager to ensure operational continuity and efficiency, with the Office Manager as the top management position in the practice hierarchy. The Lead Surgical Assistant will have direct reports and will be responsible for assisting the Office Manager in matters of scheduling, time off requests, performance review, hiring and training, disciplinary action, and termination for clinical positions.
HR matters not resolved within the practice management hierarchy should be directed to the Director of Human Resources for Forge Specialty Partners.
Qualifications
The practice will expect that an applicant for the Lead Surgical Assistant position has the following qualifications to ensure success:
Required
- High School diploma or graduation equivalency degree (GED) certificate
- Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) Certification
- Basic Life-saving (BLS) Certification
- Valid Driver’s License
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
Preferred
- Advanced degrees and/or certificates in a related field
- State License – Radiography (subject to state requirements), required within 90 days of hire
- Dental Anesthesia Assistant National Certification Examination (DAANCE) Completion, required within 6 months of hire
- Nitrous Oxide Examination Completion, optional
- Intravenous Line Placement Examination and/or Course Completion, optional
- 3+ years of oral surgery or other dental specialty experience, preferred
- 1+ years of management experience, preferred
- 1+ years of inventory management/clinical ordering experience, preferred
- Experience with CareStack practice management system, preferred
- Experience with XChart vitals monitoring software, preferred
- Experience with Straumann dental implant system, preferred
Special Indication: This position is involved with direct patient contact and will encounter a daily risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The company will provide a Hepatitis vaccine at no cost to clinical team members upon employment --- this is optional. Declining the offer for a Hepatitis vaccine will be documented. Some medical history may be required to be stored in the employee file for those in clinical positions as directed by OSHA regulations.
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Company Summary
Forge Specialty Partners (Forge) is the parent company of Dr. James J. Klemens, DDS, MD. Dr. James Klemens is the owner-clinician and is responsible for clinical and operational activities of the practice with support from the Forge platform.
Forge Specialty Partners
Forge Specialty Partners is a DSO that understands the pressures and responsibilities of running a successful specialty dental practice because it is what we do every day. The platform is designed to execute a flexible, tailored approach to the affiliation process by offering a la carte operational support that respects the owner-clinician desire to maintain a legacy without the continued demands of running a business as a sole proprietor.
Without sacrificing autonomy, the Forge platform capitalizes on economies of scale led and directed by owners who understand the reality of exceptional patient care, delivered daily, at the lowest possible cost to the business. The a la carte support structure allows owner-clinicians to identify areas of opportunity within their own business and markets at a time that is right for them, resulting in improved agility to respond to changes in the patient population, dental industry, and economic or political environment.
Dr. James J. Klemens, DDS, MD
Dr. Klemens has been serving the Louisville community for over 30 years and prides himself on his practice's priority of putting the patient first, every single time. Patients over profits is a value shared among every member of the team and embedded in every workflow and conversation. Dr. Klemens is driven by a responsibility to do right by the patients he serves, and this is why this practice is where exceptional care meets genuine compassion.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $23.00 - $26.50 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Bereavement leave
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- License reimbursement
- Life insurance
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Pet insurance
- Uniform allowance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person