Front Desk Clerk - Dental (Da)

JOB SUMMARY: Provides indirect patient care in the office setting. Greets and registers patients. Verifies patient demographic and insurance information. Performs clerical duties. Meets the communication needs of the patient/family, office staff and the medical staff. Participates in performance improvement activities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensures services are provided in an effective and efficient manner when providing secretarial, clerical, and administrative support.
• Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.
• Photocopies patient schedule sheets each day, pulls the next day charts, prepares charts for new patients.
• Files lab and test results, files patient charts daily.
• Maintains a good working relationship with office staff members and physicians.
• Maintains daily patient log.
• Validates parking tickets, calls for taxi for patient, etc.
• Registers all patient using sign-in sheets; gives new patients medical forms to complete.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Verifies patient demographic, employment, and insurance information.
• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
• Schedules new and return appointments; explains registration process and gives directions to new patients; may explain procedure preparation to patients.
• Collects payments, writes receipts, writes payments in ledger, balances petty cash, makes bank deposits.
• Answers the telephone in a professional and courteous manner; takes messages; directs calls to appropriate staff members.
• Explains billing policies, collects copayments; refers patients without insurance to the office manager.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Meets dress code standards; appearance is neat and clean.

• Reports to work on time and as scheduled; completes work within designated time.
• Wears identification while on duty, uses computerized punch time system correctly.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Attends staff meetings as directed; reads and returns all monthly staff meeting minutes.
• Ensures patient confidentiality.
• Communicates the mission, ethics, and goals of the facility, as well as the focus statement of the department.
• Completes annual educational requirements.
• Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
• Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion.
• Maintains regulatory requirements.

REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS:

• 2-Hour Dental Practice Certificate
• Dental Radiology License
• CPR BLS certification ? current and not expired
• 8-Hour Infection Control Certificate
• One (1) year experience in office setting or clinical setting.
• Experience with billing and insurance preferred.
• Dental Assisting Certificate
• High school graduate or equivalent.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Bilingual ? English/Spanish preferred.
• Other languages preferred.

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Basic computer knowledge.
• Ability to type 40 wpm.
• Knowledge of dental technology.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS:

• For physical demands of position, including vision, hearing, repetitive motion, and environment, see following description. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.

Please note that this job description is intended to provide only basic guidelines for meeting job requirements. Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions may change as needs evolve.