PT Dentist - Corrections

Job Summary

Responsible for delivering adult dental care to patients of HFHC at the Sumter County Detention Center in accordance with Florida Statute 466 and Administrative Rule 64B5 and providing team leadership during clinical and administrative aspects of the dental practice. Participates in continual training and education to support HFHC needs and licensing requirements. This role is scheduled for 1 day per week.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Education and Training:

• Graduate of an American Dental Association Accredited Dental School or Program or equivalent.

• Experience and/or interest in community/migrant health preferred.

• Current, active license from the State of Florida Board of Dentistry or eligible within 3 months; no license revocation or suspension in any state.

• Must have passed National Dental Boards part I and II.

• Must have and maintain current Basic Life Support Certification from an accredited AHA or American Red Cross provider.

• DEA license required.

• Clinical Skills: Diagnostic abilities, spatial perception, and manual dexterity to perform the necessary functions of the position.

• Behavioral Management: Experience working with patients of all ages preferred. Maintain a professional, caring, kind manner when dealing with people in stressful situations (patients and team members alike).

• Cultural Competency: Experience dealing with underserved populations and ability to relate to patients of all religions, ethnical and cultural backgrounds required.

• Good Communication Skills: Must have good people skills and communicate following the HFHC Core Values. Must be able to coordinate care as a member of the dental assistant team.

• Emotional Intelligence and Adaptability: Must be able to stay positive in stressful situations and deal professionally with unhappy, fearful, and confrontational individuals.

• Adherence to Policy and Procedures: Must have a good working knowledge of dental terminology, dental policies & procedures, and oral health issues. As part of the role, team member must exemplify and model the organizational and department professional code of conduct.

• Time Management Skills: Must be able to organize and prioritize workload. Ability to work flexible hours as needed.

• Manual Dexterity for the utilization of specialized equipment, i.e. prophylaxis slow speed handpiece.

• Competent in General Office Skills such as computers (Microsoft Office products, EHR), faxes, telephones, and copy machines.

• Bilingual a plus: English/Spanish speaker preferred.

Essential Functions

• Diagnose, plan, and deliver all phases of general dental care in accordance with Florida Statutes 466 and Administrative Rules 64B-5. (Scope/Privileging will be provided to specify procedures the dentist can perform).

• Deliver care at the primary assigned site.

• Skillfully utilize various types of dental equipment with reasonable accommodations.

• Adhere to current, applicable evidence-based clinical guidelines, standards of care, and standards of practice.

• Ensure adherence to HIPAA, OSHA, and CDC standards of care and guidelines.

• Assist in the development, follow, and enforcement all HFHC policies, procedures, and clinical protocols specific to dental services.

• Provide direct and indirect supervision and delegate tasks to Dental Assistants in accordance with Florida Statutes 466 and Administrative Rule 64B-5. And manage other support staff for dental services, as needed.

• Provide Dental Education to the Sumter County community and HFHC patients.

• Properly represent HFHC’s Mission and Values and support organizational goals by providing quality patient care.

• Exhibit professional behavior at all times showing decisiveness and accountability.

• Document thoroughly and accurately in dental records, including but not limited to dental charting, procedure documentation and signature.

• Participate in the Peer Review and Quality Assurance activities as requested.

• Provide supportive leadership to other members of the team and coordinates patient care.

• Maintain proper and professional appearance at all times.

• Work collaboratively with the CMO, providers onsite and other management and clinical staff to ensure access to health care for all patients while maintaining a quality and cost-effective operation.

• Participates in training existing and future dental staff and providers.

• Review any patient complaints and attempt to de-escalate within the clinic setting.

• Follow National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) specific Oral Care standards (Standard J-E-06) for county jails to ensure safe, structured, and timely dental treatment.

Core Timeline Requirements

• Oral Examinations: Required within 12 months of admission for inmates housed in a jail setting.

• Prior Exams: If records show an oral exam occurred within 30 days of admission, the facility is not required to repeat it.

• Emergency Care: Access to emergency dental services (trauma, severe infection, uncontrolled bleeding) must be available 24 hours a day.

Scope of the Oral Examination

• The evaluation must be documented and include:

• Review of the inmate’s medical and dental history, including medication allergies and systemic diseases.

• Evaluation of current dental complaints

• Extraoral head and neck examination

• Charting of existing, missing, and decayed teeth

• Periodontal screening and soft/hard oral tissue examination

• Radiographs and a structured treatment plan, when clinically appropriate

Operational & Staffing Standards

• Treatment Planning: All ongoing oral treatment must follow a formally established treatment plan.

• Staff Training: Personnel performing oral or dental screenings must complete documented training approved or provided by a licensed dentist.

• Infection Control: Universal precautions and proper personal protective equipment (PPE) are mandatory for all procedures.

• If you'd like to dive deeper, let me know if you need information on:

• Accreditation scoring criteria (Essential vs. Important standards)

• Infection control protocols specific to correctional operator sites

• Emergency sick-call workflows for county facilities

Physical Requirements

• Mobility and ability to lift 50 pounds.

• Frequently sitting at a desk for office work.

• Must be able to stand or sit chairside for extended periods of time.

• Requires continuous use of corrected vision, depth perception, wide field of vision, and color recognition. The role also involves use of olfactory, auditory, and tactile senses.

• Position is highly active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and stooping throughout the day.

• Duties demand attention to detail, alertness, problem-solving ability, stress tolerance, and sound judgement.