IHS Dental Impressions
September 2017
IHS DENTAL IMPRESSIONS
 
Photo of IHS Dental Health Professionals and Patient
A Unique Place to Practice Dentistry

The Indian Health Service (IHS) Division of Oral Health (DOH) offers dental health professionals an opportunity to practice dentistry within interdisciplinary team environments serving American Indian and Alaska Native patients. IHS dentists work in some of the most scenic and culturally rich areas of the continental United States and Alaska, with numerous opportunities for recreational activities nearby.

 
A Modern Dental Clinic — In Remote New Mexico
Jicarilla Service Unit / Jicarilla Apache Health Care Facility
Photo of Jicarilla Service Unit Exterior

When CAPT Robert P. Sewell, DMD, arrived at IHS’ Jicarilla Service Unit in remote Dulce, NM, the facility was brand new, racking up design awards for its culturally evocative architecture and sophisticated lighting design.

The focal point of the stunning 64,000-square-foot facility, dedicated in late 2004, is a rotunda capped with a sloping roof, featuring a central skylight that allows sun to filter into the building, creating a soft glow throughout the space.

A curving staircase to the second floor is decorated with etched glass panels depicting Jicarilla men and women in silhouette. Twelve stainless steel cables, reminiscent of traditional teepee poles, surround the balcony.

The facility has a holistic ambience — in the Apache language, its Tribal name, Nzhonachi’idle’ee, means “a place to get well.”

Photo of Jicarilla Service Unit Interior Staircase

Embossed in the floor of the rotunda is a Jicarilla basket design and the traditional Four Directions of the Native American Medicine Wheel, used by many Tribes to symbolize dimensions of health and the cycles of life.

But aside from the unique design and beauty of the space, its high-tech infrastructure is a major draw, especially in such a remote location.

“We made a decision to really pursue emerging technology as it became available to IHS,” says Dr. Sewell, Chief Dental Officer at the facility, also known as the Jicarilla Apache Health Care Facility or simply, the Dulce Health Center. Dulce is in the northernmost part of New Mexico, near the Colorado border.

Dr. Sewell, a Captain in the US Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, arrived in 2006, and in late 2009, the facility was one of the first in the Albuquerque Area to begin using the Electronic Dental Record (EDR) system, which is now in use at 230 IHS sites.

Another innovation at the time was digital radiography. “The expense was the biggest barrier transitioning to digital technology, but our funding level allowed us to purchase all of the equipment needed,” Dr. Sewell says.

The facility was constructed under a Joint Venture Construction Program (JVCP) Agreement, through which the Tribe designed and built the new facility; IHS provided the initial equipment for the health center and leases the facility from the Tribe under a no-cost, 20-year lease.

“We made a decision to really pursue emerging technology as it became available to IHS.”

— CAPT Robert P. Sewell
Chief Dental Officer

The facility serves a community of 3,600 patients and operates a nine-chair dental clinic. The importance of modernization to patient care has been “tremendous,” Dr. Sewell says. We went from being “like an emergency clinic” to a modern facility that is now designated as both a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and Dental Home. Both are official recognitions that a facility meets established standards for quality of care and employing a patient-centered approach.

Dr. Sewell says one of the most important advantages of having a modern facility for him, as a program manager, “is having all of your patients’ information at your fingertips, and not having to request a chart, wait for the chart to arrive and then look through the chart. You can condense that process down to a matter of seconds.”

Especially in such a remote location, modernization makes an impression. “With newer dentists getting out of school, when they come here for a site visit they are relieved to see that it’s a modern facility with state-of-the-art equipment,” he says. He adds that the dental clinic has been able to recruit specialists in dental prosthetics and pediatric dentistry to provide needed services.

Nationwide, IHS strives to have clinics with modern facilities utilizing leading-edge technologies. Pine Ridge and Rosebud, both in South Dakota, are two of several dental clinics that are currently being renovated and are in line to be supplied with new equipment.

 
Training Perk: Continuing Dental Education

The Indian Health Service Continuing Dental Education (CDE) Program is a valuable benefit that provides multiple CDE opportunities for dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants working at IHS, Tribal and IHS-funded Urban Indian dental programs.

“Over the past three years, almost 500 courses have been held, with 40 percent of those being in-person clinical courses,” says CAPT Timothy L. Ricks, DMD, IHS Continuing Dental Education Coordinator, IHS Division of Oral Health (DOH).

Dr. Ricks says more than 38,000 participant hours of CDE were awarded last year, with a total of 146 courses worth $7.6 million. Topics include everything from general dentistry and clinical specialty areas, such as endodontics and oral surgery, to public health concepts and dental program management.

CDE By the Numbers

489 courses over the past three years (146 in the past year).

181 in-person courses over the past three years.

38,000+ participant CDE hours awarded last year (a value of $7.6 million).

1,316 IHS and Tribal dentists participated in CDE activities last year.

Access to hundreds of nationally recognized speakers.

 
CDE Supports IHS’ Priorities

People — Recruit, develop and retain a dedicated, competent, caring workforce collaborating to achieve the IHS mission.

Partnerships — Build, strengthen and sustain collaborative relationships that advance the IHS mission.

Quality — Excellence in everything we do to ensure a high-performing Indian health system.

Resources — Secure and effectively manage the assets needed to promote the IHS mission.

The program, the largest of its kind in the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), “is a valuable benefit that can save dentists up to $5,000 a year in CDE costs while building their knowledge and skills,” Dr. Ricks says. He adds that most dentists are able to meet all annual CDE requirements needed for licensure through the IHS CDE Program.

“It offers dentists the opportunity to learn and grow in their chosen career with CDE that is customized toward treatment of American Indians and Alaska Natives and changes with the needs of the participating dental staff.”

All courses are free to dentists in IHS programs; most are free to dentists directly hired by Tribes. For the few that are not free, the cost of CDE is usually less than $8 per credit hour (compared to $100–$200 if commercially obtained).

To get a better idea of our CDE Program, view the current CDE catalog of courses here. (Please note that our courses are reserved for Indian health dentists and staff.)

 
Our Social Media Following is Growing!
IHS Dental Careers Facebook Post

Are you following us on Facebook?

After a social media campaign in July, the number of followers on our Indian Health Service Dental Careers Facebook page jumped from 860 to 1,851 in three weeks! We also increased the percentage of dentistry followers on LinkedIn, where Dentistry Careers are posted through the general IHS recruitment account.

Why is this important, you may ask? Because 2.8 billion people worldwide — that’s right, BILLION — were on social media networks as of January 2017, a 22 percent increase from the previous year. And social media is increasingly where people look for jobs: 73 percent of adults ages 18–34 found their last job on a social media network, according to the Aberdeen Group.

More than 18.4 million applicants found their job through Facebook; 10.2 million found their job through LinkedIn and 8 million found their job on Twitter, according to human resource consulting firm Herd Wisdom.

Whichever social networks you’re on, follow us — and share IHS dentistry career opportunities with your friends and followers!

Facebook: Follow Indian Health Service Dental Careers.

LinkedIn: Follow Indian Health Service.

Twitter: Follow @IHS_Jobs.

 

Job Opportunities

Whether you’re beginning your dental career, seeking a licensed pediatric specialist position or are considering a career move to Chief Dental Officer, we may have the right match for you.

FIND A POSITION >

Financial Freedom

Experience the financial freedom that comes from the IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP) or the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) LRP. Live and work in some of the most scenic areas of the country while paying down your dental school debts.

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS >

 

Join us at ADA 2017 in Atlanta. We’ll be at Booth 767 from October 19 – 21!

 
Contact Us

Our dental recruiters and externship program team are here to help. Contact us if you have questions about current openings, the externship program or other areas of Indian health dentistry.

Indian Health Service
Division of Oral Health
5600 Fishers Lane
Mail Stop: 08N34 A
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone: 800-447-3368

dentaljobs@ihs.gov
dentalextern@ihs.gov
DENTAL FACEBOOK

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Opportunity. Adventure. Purpose.
Careers with the Indian Health Service
HHS IHS
The policy of the IHS is to provide absolute preference to qualified Indian applicants and employees who are suitable for federal employment in filling vacancies within the IHS. IHS is an equal opportunity employer.

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