Dental Hygienist
Columbia, South Carolina
Palmetto Health Richland

Job Opportunity: Dental Hygienist

Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Work Schedule

• Monday to Thursday: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
• Friday: 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• No weekends or major holidays required
• Total hours per week: 39-40 hours

Job Description

• Perform routine dental prophylaxis including removal of hard and soft deposits and stains, and polishing teeth surfaces
• Apply topical fluoride treatments
• Expose and develop dental radiographs
• Provide oral hygiene instruction, counseling, and nutrition/dietary advice
• Review medical and dental health histories
• Take and record blood pressure
• Chart dental diseases using Epic Wisdom for documentation and charge entry
• Train dental hygiene students with minimal supervision
• May require access to medication storage and administration of procedures involving medications

Required Qualifications

• Associate's degree in Dental Hygiene
• Minimum of 1 year of Dental Hygienist experience, including experience within the last year

Compliance and Documentation Requirements

• Valid Driver’s License/State ID required for computer access and must be carried on duty
• Background check covering 7 years of history, including alias and multi-state/county searches, must be current within 12 months
• E-Verify or attestation required
• Various federal and state sanction checks (EPLS/GSA/SAM, HHS/OIG) required within 30 days of start and ongoing every 30 days
• Physical exam within 1 year verifying ability to meet job demands
• Drug screening within 1 year, updated annually (5-panel minimum)
• Immunizations and health screenings including:

  • Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 90 days
  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap vaccine within 10 years (if working in high-risk areas)
  • Flu vaccine or approved exemption required annually
  • Documentation for Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, and Hepatitis B (vaccination series, positive titer, or declination)
• Respirator fit test completed onsite during orientation (N95 masks commonly used)

Certifications and Training

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (AHA or ARC, RQI acceptable)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification if required by unit (AHA or ARC, RQI acceptable)
• Other certifications may be required depending on unit assignment (e.g., Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Neonatal Resuscitation, Trauma Nursing Core Course) – check unit specifics
• Completion of online orientation modules within 72 hours of assignment
• Pre-assignment testing (medication and arrhythmia tests) required within 72 hours of receiving login information, with two attempts allowed
• Annual competency exams and core training modules covering universal precautions, cultural diversity, pain management, harassment, fire safety, and patient rights

Additional Requirements

• Badge photo meeting specific guidelines (passport style, plain background, no obstructions) required prior to start
• Compliance with facility-specific policies including floating policy and contractor acknowledgment
• Employment application/resume must include a 7-year work history
• Internal and performance evaluations required if previously worked with the agency over 1 year

Notes

• Prior travel experience is not required for this position
• This is a daytime shift position with no weekend or holiday work
• Facility is latex-free; candidates with latex allergies are acceptable

This summary includes all relevant information for healthcare recruiters and dental hygienists considering this travel contract opportunity.