Dental Receptionist

Willamette Dental; Springfield (OR); On-site; USD 27,552 - 31,684; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Flexible spending accounts

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Job summary

A dental care provider in Springfield seeks a Care Advocate to provide quality customer service and coordination of patient flow. The role includes overseeing schedules, ensuring accurate patient records, and fostering communication between patients and clinical staff. Candidates should have a high school diploma or GED, preferably with customer service experience, particularly in the medical or dental field. The position offers a full-time schedule with competitive pay and generous employee benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of customer service experience preferred.
• Medical/dental clinic or healthcare experience highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate patient flow and effective communication with patients and clinic staff.
• Update patient records and confirm insurance information.
• Ensure clinic's reception area remains neat and clean.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Knowledge of HIPAA compliance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Post-secondary coursework

Job description

Location: Springfield Practice

Position Type: Full Time

Schedule: 3 10-hour days per week (30 hours per week)

Expected Hiring Range: $20 - $23 per hour

Position Summary

In partnership with the clinical team, the Care Advocate provides quality customer service through the coordination of patient flow and effective communication with patients, doctors, practice managers and clinic staff. The Care Advocate will act as the bridge for communication between patients, clinic staff and appointment center representatives by monitoring treatment completion, facilitating oral health improvement initiatives and focusing on patient engagement. The Care Advocate helps to strengthen the therapeutic alliance between clinicians and patients by supporting provider recommendations, interventions, prescriptions and recalls. This position reports to the Practice Administrator.

Essential Position Functions

• Oversee the daily schedule, seek opportunities to maximize scheduling efficiencies, maintain awareness of schedule changes and promptly identify and correct scheduling errors.
• Understand payment methods and communicate fee requirements to patients; collect and document payments for dental services.
• Handle monies properly: accurately balance the daily payment ledger, reconcile payments, complete the M.O.O.L.A.H. form and submit to Accounting, accurately complete deposit slips and make timely daily bank deposits.
• Update patient card, confirm and verify insurance information, schedule treatment as directed by clinicians.
• Ensure charts are organized, prepared and available for patient appointments; use proper chart routing processes, perform chart maintenance as needed, prepare new patient charts according to current WD guidelines, duplicate charts and records as requested.
• Initiate partnership and build rapport with patients by providing thorough and accurate information; address any patient questions or concerns related to their treatment plan and provide a Statement of Services at each visit.
• Open and close the clinic; keep the reception area neat and clean to instill patient confidence and comfort.
• Partner with the clinical team to enhance understanding of dental procedures, treatment series and interventions to improve patient understanding.
• Partner with the clinical team to understand providers’ expectations and reiterate communication directives to the patient.
• Partner with the clinical team to triage incoming emergency and unplanned treatment calls.
• Coordinate care by scheduling and reinforcing recalls, referrals to internal and external providers, and answering patient questions related to their care.
• Adhere strictly to Willamette Dental's PPE policy, including the use of N95 respirators and other required PPE.
• Travel to other WD locations within a reasonable range as described in the Travel Policy when needed based on business needs.
• Maintain reliable and predictable attendance; Willamette Dental relies on employees being at work at scheduled times to deliver efficient service.

Education And Experience

High school diploma or GED required. Post‑secondary coursework desirable or an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the ability to perform the essential functions.

Minimum of two years of customer service experience preferred. Medical/dental clinic or healthcare experience highly desirable, including strong knowledge of HIPAA compliance procedures.

Licenses, Certifications and Registrations

• Successfully demonstrate educational requirements regarding care advocacy via an electronic exam.
• Successfully demonstrate case presentations regarding care advocacy to the Managing Doctor and Practice Manager.

Compensation

The base pay offered will be based on education, job‑related knowledge/skills, experience, geographic location and internal equity. The position is also eligible for incentive pay per the company’s plan.

Company Benefits

Willamette Dental offers benefits subject to eligibility requirements: medical, dental and vision insurance; tuition reimbursement; flexible spending accounts; 401(k) retirement plan with 5% match; accidental death and dismemberment insurance; life insurance; voluntary disability insurance; commuter benefits; two complimentary pairs of Fig scrubs (clinical roles); and an employee assistance program.

Paid Time Off (PTO): Eligible employees accrue a minimum of 120 PTO hours per employment year plus seven paid holidays annually. Part‑time employees accrue PTO on a pro‑rated basis.

Physical Requirements

The work is primarily performed while sitting or standing, occasionally requiring walking, bending, stooping and carrying light items such as papers, books or supplies, using a computer and standard office equipment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Willamette Dental provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, genetic information or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws.

This job description is not an all‑inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but defines the general scope and function of the position. The position may expose the employee to PHI, which must be handled in compliance with HIPAA.