Dental Receptionist

HealthPartners; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

HealthPartners in St. Paul is hiring a full-time Dental Receptionist at our Wabasha Dental Clinic.

The role serves as the first point of contact for patients, facilitates scheduling, and collects payments for non-covered services at the point of service. The ideal candidate will have a high school diploma or GED, formal reception training or an equivalent program, and strong English communication, both oral and written, with the ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Graduate of a formal training program in medical reception, or equivalent.
• Two years as a medical/dental receptionist or medical/dental insurance processing.
• Two years experience in a customer service position.
• One year data entry on a PC-based system.
• One year customer service experience either via telephone or in-person within five years.
• Demonstrated ability to organize work under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple priorities and interruptions.
• Excellent oral communication skills.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Preferred: Experience working in a dental clinic.

Responsibilities

• Interacts positively and professionally with patients and other contacts; relays messages and follows up as needed.
• Schedules patient appointments and coordinates provider schedules with varying appointment lengths.
• Reviews patient records and insurance information to ensure accurate billing and coverage.
• Maintains courteous collaboration with colleagues and supports team problem-solving.

Skills

Customer service

Oral communication

Written communication

Organizational skills

Multitasking

Data entry

English proficiency

Education

High School diploma or GED

Medical receptionist training program

Customer service program

Job description

HealthPartners is hiring a full-time Dental Receptionist at our Wabasha Dental Clinic in St. Paul.

Required:

• High School diploma or GED
• Graduate of a formal training program in medical reception, an equivalent program, or a customer service program
• Two years experience as a medical or dental receptionist, or medical/dental insurance processing
• Two years experience in a customer service position
• One year experience using data look-up and data entry functions on PC based computer system
• One year customer service experience either via telephone or in-person within the last five years
• Demonstrated ability to organize work under pressure
• Demonstrated ability to function with multiple priorities and interruptions
• Excellent oral communication skills
• Excellent written communication skills

Preferred:

• Experience working in a dental clinic.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to sit or stand for prolonged periods of time, and has at least limited mobility.
• Oral and written communications with customers requires adequate speech, vision, and hearing.
• Proficiency in English is required.
• Proficiency in other languages may be required.
• Use of a telephone and computer terminal.
• Also requires adequate hand writing and manual dexterity skills.

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Dental Receptionist is, generally, the first point of contact for a patient seeking care in a dental clinic and shares responsibility with other staff for providing a satisfying experience for patients and other customers. The Dental Receptionist fields a wide range of questions about the operations of a clinic, facilitates the process of appointing the patient for care and collects payments for non-covered services at the point of service. To a large degree, the efficient use of resources in a dental clinic is determined by the effectiveness of scheduling patients. The Dental Receptionist is the position where the day-to-day execution of the clinic's scheduling process takes place.

Service excellence is to be centered on patient care and patient relationships and is the responsibility of all employees. Teamwork is the norm and all employees will be held accountable to work as effective team members.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. 1. Patient Communication:

   Interacts positively and professionally with patients and other customer contacts, both in person and through phone communications.

   Understands operations of the clinic and policies and procedures of the company to effectively, accurately and completely provide information to and obtain information from patients and other contacts.

   Takes and relays messages requiring follow-up to appropriate persons.

   Is knowledgeable about and behaves in a manner consistent with the company's patient service expectations/standards.

2. 2. Appointment Scheduling:

   Schedules patient appointments using principles and protocols to productively schedule and maintain efficient provider schedules. Appointment lengths need to be varied based on the treatment being done. Often a patient will be treated by 2 providers in the same visit. This integration of provider schedules needs to be as seamless as possible for the patient.

   Exercises sound judgment, consistent with established guidance from provider's parameters, in determining urgency of patient's need to be seen by a provider and in scheduling appointments. When unclear, seeks assistance from care staff.

   Takes initiative to contact patients potentially available with short notice to fill open time in provider schedule.

   Contacts patients to confirm future appointments.

   Contacts and facilitates scheduling of treatment with staff or contracted specialty providers according to guidance from general dentist. Notifies patients of co-payments, coordinates transfer of appropriate information to the referral provider, and provides necessary information to the patient.

3. 3. Patient Records and Charges for Services:

   Reviews patient records prior to appointment to assure necessary information is available and updated, including insurance information. Seeks updated information from patient when needed. Determines that all patient insurance coverages are set-up appropriately in dental practice system.

   Communicates patient charges for future appointed treatment (unless special payment arrangements are established) to the patient.

   Establishes payment plans with patients for treatment plans and charges that aren't complex.

   Collects patient charges at point of service for co-insurance or non-covered services, applying established patient payment guidelines. Creates appropriate record of patient charges and payments received.

   Reconciles own charge, payment and account adjustment activities.

4. 4. Working with Colleagues:

   Interacts with co-workers in a courteous and respectful manner.

   Participates in the work unit's efforts to share ideas and concerns and problem solving that lead to improved effectiveness of the work unit.

   Assists co-workers in performing tasks within the