Job Information
North Shore Community Health Director of Dental Practice & Operations in Salem, Massachusetts
Director of Dental Practice & Operations
Salem, MA (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=47+Congress+Street+Salem+MA+USA+01970)
Description
THE ORGANIZATION
North Shore Community Health (NSCH) offers comprehensive primary care, dental services, behavioral health care, care management, pharmacy, substance abuse disorder treatment, nurse care management, and insurance enrollment assistance services. NSCH has 10 services sites: Gloucester, Peabody and Salem Family Health Centers; the school-based health centers at Salem High School and Peabody Veterans Memorial High School; and behavioral health only services at the Bentley Academy, Collins Middle School, Horace Mann School, Bates Elementary School, and the Peabody Learning Academy. NSCH offers competitive benefit plans and as a community-based safety net healthcare provider, NSCH welcomes staff who mirror the diversity of our communities and is on the path to becoming an anti-racist employer.
Primary Purpose of Position:
The Director of Dental Practice & Operations will oversee all dental operations, ensuring the delivery of exceptional dental care to our patients. This role involves strategic planning, management of dental staff, quality assurance, and collaboration with other departments to integrate dental services within our healthcare model.
Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the Director of Dental Practice & Operations will be a key member of the NSCH Leadership Team. They will work closely with the Dental Director to supervise staff, develop and implement quality improvement plans, and conduct staff training programs. Additionally, they will ensure that our strategies and business model align with NSCH’s overall strategic plan, focusing on fiscal responsibility, policy and procedure development, population health, and systems integration. The Director of Dental Practice & Operations will have firsthand knowledge of patient and operational issues, dedicating 60% of their time to practicing dentistry.
Essential Functions:
Leadership and Management
Compliance:Ensure adherence to federal and state laws, regulations, accrediting and certifying organizations, and NSCH standards.
Program Development:Take part in dental program development, grant writing, grant review, and reporting in collaboration with other NSCH departments.
Strategic Planning:Lead visioning and strategic planning of the dental department in collaboration with the Dental Director.
Develop department goals and objectives with measurable outcomes for success.
Create a communication plan for NSCH leadership and dental staff regarding department goals and objectives.
Implement the strategic plan in collaboration with department leaders, managers, and staff.
Performance Management:Oversee participation in NSCH’s performance management program for the dental department.
Create and update job descriptions.
Ensure timely completion of performance evaluations by department supervisors and staff.
Collaborate with the Dental Director and the Dental Operations Manager on personnel hiring, management, training, and support.
Grant Applications:Take part in the preparation of grant applications to support the growth and development of the dental department.
Committees and Taskforces:Serve on committees, taskforces, and special project teams as needed or assigned by NSCH Leadership (e.g., Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement, Performance Improvement, Patient Centered Medical Home, Safety, C3).
Fiscal Responsibility
Budget Development:Develop the operating budget for the dental department in collaboration with the Dental Director, finance department, and health center leadership.
Forecast provider patient visits based on NSCH data and CHC benchmark data.
Forecast operating expenses for the dental department, including supplies and equipment replacement/maintenance.
Vendor Management:Manage dental department vendors to ensure optimal performance of negotiated contracts.
Revenue Cycle Monitoring:Monitor the revenue cycle to ensure maximized reimbursement for services while adhering to all state, federal, and FQHC regulations.
Ensure annual updates to Federal Poverty Level Income Scales.
Prepare annual dental department sliding fee scale for essential and non-essential services.
Monitor accuracy and implementation of good faith estimates on all self-pay services.
Financial Metrics:Develop, set benchmarks, and monitor financial metrics, including:
No show rate
Direct costs per visit
Charges per encounter
Payer mix (per site)
Policy and Procedure Development
Policy Implementation:Develop, implement, and ensure compliance with NSCH and dental department policies and procedures.
Policy Formulation:Formulate and recommend policies related to dental staff, quality assessment, and dental education to NSCH leadership.
Emergency and Safety Compliance:Ensure compliance with emergency and safety procedures, including organizing mock codes and fire drills.
Population Health and Quality
Quality Metrics Monitoring:Monitor dental quality metrics in relation to industry benchmarks, including:
Case completion rate
Caries at recall
Risk assessment of all dental patients
Sealants (6-9 years and 10-14 years) (UDS/HRSA measure)
Topical fluoride treatment
Self-management goal setting
Types of services provided.
Percentage of patients presenting as emergencies
Quality Improvement Program:Develop a Continuous Quality Improvement Program based on clinical data and quality metrics.
Quality Collaboration:Collaborate with the Director of Quality on developing and implementing specific dental quality improvement projects.
Chart Audits:Work with the Dental Director to ensure periodic chart audits and review quality metrics.
Patient Engagement:Develop patient engagement strategies, including regular patient satisfaction surveys.
Systems Integration
Workflow Creation:Create workflows in the Electronic Dental Record to support cross-departmental communication and collaboration with medical, behavioral health, dental, and school-based departments.
Supply Management:Create and monitor a standard supply management system for all dental sites.
Patient Schedule Monitoring:Monitor patient schedules for trends in access and capacity to make recommendations for wait lists, expanded hours, and increased staffing.
Integrated Health Strategies:Collaborate with medical directors to develop and implement integrated medical, behavioral, and dental health strategies for NSCH patients.
Other Duties as Assigned
Non-Essential Functions:
· Attends periodic staff meetings and training sessions.
· Complies with proper paperwork procedures, prompt follow-up communications and departmental policies.
· Adheres to NSCH values and principles:
ØIntegrity
Integrity is the foundation of healthy relationships. We are committed to the highest ethical standards: honesty, fairness, respectfulness, and trustworthiness. We are honorable and respectful in dealings with others, and we strive to deal honestly, fairly and in a respectful, ethical and trustworthy manner when in agreement or disagreement.
ØCommitment
NSCH is committed to the health and well-being of its community, patients and staff. We demonstrate this commitment by constantly striving to align our actions with our mission, vision, and values.
ØAccountability
We take our responsibility to ourselves, each other, and the NSCH community very seriously. We understand our individual roles and positions of power with respect to how others perceive our roles, and actions. We hold ourselves accountable when we make mistakes--acknowledging the error, owning it, taking corrective actions, and moving forward. We follow through on what we commit or resolve to do.
ØCourage
We see courage as the strength of character to stand up for our convictions and belief system. To have courage is to have the fortitude to take risks and to extend one’s behaviors, actions and thoughts beyond one’s comfort zone. We appreciate that courage is often required to compromise. Courage is a state of mind to face adverse, difficult, and challenging situations with confidence and positive energy.
ØEmpathy
Empathy is a deep appreciation for another's situation and point of view which is the basis for the golden rule and our intrinsic sense of justice. We strive to bring empathy into our interactions with each other and with our patients.
ØRespect
NSCH holds its patients in the highest regard. We provide care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient needs and values. We take the time to listen to concerns, understand what is important, and provide appropriate solutions and care. We do this through coordination and integration of care, collaboration and teamwork.
Requirements
DS or DMD from an accredited dental school.
Current state dental license.
Minimum of 3 years of clinical dental experience.
Strong understanding of community health principles and practices.
Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
Proven ability to manage budgets and financial plans.
Ability to collaborate across different practice areas, organizational levels, etc.
Ability evaluate data to make data-driven decisions.
Demonstrated experience in continuous improvement practices.
Community Health Center experience preferred.
Experience with Electronic Dental Records
Demonstrated ability to work in a culturally diverse environment.
Demonstrated excellent communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills.
Ability to travel to other NSCH sites for meetings and as needed is required.
Some evening and weekend hours may be required.