Dental Hygienist Onboarding Checklist

Dental Hygienist Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Dental Hygienist starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Healthcare onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Dental Hygienist, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Dental Hygienist onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Dental Hygienist Onboarding Checklist

1. Orientation: The dental hygienist attends a comprehensive orientation session to familiarize themselves with the company’s policies, procedures, and culture. This task is typically performed by the human resources department or a designated orientation coordinator.

2. Introduction to the Team: The dental hygienist is introduced to their colleagues, including dentists, dental assistants, and other dental hygienists. This task is usually performed by the office manager or a senior dental hygienist.

3. Review of Job Responsibilities: The dental hygienist receives a detailed overview of their specific job responsibilities, including patient care, dental cleanings, oral health assessments, and preventive treatments. This task is typically performed by the dental office manager or the supervising dentist.

4. Training on Equipment and Technology: The dental hygienist undergoes training on the various dental equipment, instruments, and technology used in the practice. This includes learning how to operate X-ray machines, dental chairs, and computer software for patient records. The training is usually conducted by a senior dental hygienist or a dental assistant.

5. Review of Safety Protocols: The dental hygienist is educated on the practice’s safety protocols, including infection control measures, proper handling of hazardous materials, and emergency procedures. This task is performed by the office manager or a designated safety officer.

6. Familiarization with Dental Software: The dental hygienist is trained on the dental software used for scheduling appointments, managing patient records, and billing. This task is typically performed by the office manager or a designated IT staff member.

7. Introduction to Office Policies: The dental hygienist is provided with a copy of the office policies and procedures manual, which covers topics such as appointment scheduling, patient confidentiality, and billing practices. This task is performed by the office manager or the human resources department.

8. Shadowing Experienced Dental Hygienists: The new dental hygienist shadows experienced colleagues to observe their workflow, patient interactions, and clinical techniques. This allows them to learn best practices and gain practical experience. This task is performed by senior dental hygienists or the supervising dentist.

9. Continuing Education Opportunities: The dental hygienist is informed about the company’s commitment to continuing education and provided with information on available courses, conferences, and workshops to enhance their professional development. This task is performed by the office manager or the dental education coordinator.

10. Introduction to Office Systems: The dental hygienist is introduced to the office systems, such as appointment scheduling, patient check-in, and insurance verification. They are trained on how to efficiently navigate these systems to ensure smooth operations. This task is performed by the office manager or a designated staff member responsible for office systems.

11. Review of HIPAA Compliance: The dental hygienist receives training on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations to ensure patient privacy and confidentiality. This task is performed by the office manager or a designated HIPAA compliance officer.

12. Introduction to Dental Supplies and Inventory Management: The dental hygienist is familiarized with the dental supplies and inventory management system used in the practice. They learn how to order supplies, track inventory, and maintain stock levels. This task is performed by the office manager or a designated supply coordinator.

13. Introduction to Insurance Billing and Claims: The dental hygienist is trained on the insurance billing and claims process, including understanding dental codes, submitting claims, and following up on outstanding payments. This task is performed by the office manager or a designated billing coordinator.

14. Review of Patient Communication and Education: The dental hygienist is educated on effective patient communication techniques and provided with resources to educate patients about oral hygiene practices and preventive care. This task is performed by the office manager or a designated patient education coordinator.

15. Performance Evaluation and Goal Setting: The dental hygienist meets with their supervisor to discuss performance expectations, set goals, and establish a plan for ongoing performance evaluation and feedback. This task is performed by the supervising dentist or the office manager

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Dental Hygienist checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Dental Hygienist up to speed and working well in your Healthcare team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.