Dental Receptionist Trainee

Kalihi-Palama Health Center; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Kalihi-Palama Health Center in Honolulu, HI seeks a friendly, detail-oriented front desk receptionist to greet patients, register and check them in, and manage billing reminders.

Responsibilities include using Dentrix, verifying insurance, collecting payments, coordinating referrals, and supporting recall programs. The role requires basic math, strong computer skills, and the ability to work with diverse patient populations.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; AA certificate preferred.
• Basic math, computer and electronic patient records skills.
• Ability to work with patients of all ages and backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Greet patients, check them in, and update demographics in Dentrix.
• Register patients, verify insurance, and explain visit charges.
• Handle payments, receipts, and daily cash reconciliation.
• Coordinate referrals and patient communications with providers.
• Maintain charts, schedules, and front desk supplies.

Skills

Basic math

Computer skills

Electronic records

People skills

Bilingual English/Chinese

Education

High School Diploma

AA certificate preferred

Tools

Dentrix

Vericheck

Job description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Check-in

• Greets patients, treating all with equal respect and courtesy
• Ensures all patients sign in.
• Prepares charts
• Accurately registers patients (sets insurance, sets sliding scale, checks eligibility, updates demographics at each visit)
• Ensures patient forms are filled and signed, alerts set in Dentrix.
• Ensures all patient information is accurately placed in Dentrix, following Dentrix Administrator and Billing Department guidelines.
• Informs patients of charges (potential) for the current days visit.
• Informs patients of outstanding balances and ensures that patients have all outstanding balances paid before routine care is provided.
• Advises walk-in patients of walk-in protocol
• Advises scheduled patients, if provider is behind schedule. Offers to reschedule if patient does not wish to wait.
• Informs provider through Dentrix or intercom the status of patient visit for the day (if patient will be late, cancellations etc.)
• Monitors walk-in flow and follows guidelines for walk-in pre-screening.

Check-out

• Collects cash/visa/checks from patients and provides receipts to all patients. Verifies all personal checks w/ Vericheck and legibly writes approval number on all checks.
• Informs patient of all possible payments expected for next visit procedures.
• Cross-checks all charges (including Medicaid) with set insurance, Medicaid or sliding scale. If there are discrepancies, this is corrected/addressed according to Billing Department recommendation
• Issues refunds or refund requests according to department guidelines
• Issues next appointment cards with date/time/provider/possible charges for all patients
• Supports and promotes recall for all patients
• Maintains record of cash in cash box/pouch
• Turns in payments from patients at the end of the day to Billing Department (ensures 2nd count of collections –Director, Office Manager or available billing staff)

Miscellaneous

• Pulls and files charts, x-rays and returning referrals
• Submits treatment preauthorization requests and documents their return
• Reconfirms patient appointments and documents this in Dentrix
• Answers phones and clears phone lines
• Facilitates accurate internal and external referral (Quest, CCMC, Specialists, KPHC departments, physician etc.) and documents their return
• Submits Day Reports through Director
• Purges charts according to department guidelines
• Schedules providers according department guidelines.
• Inventories and orders forms and front supplies
• Maintains list of patients available on short notice
• Arranges for interpreters

Other Duties:

• Perform other related duties as assigned
• Observe safety and security procedures; determine appropriate actions beyond guidelines; report potentially unsafe conditions; use equipment and materials properly.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

Skills/Knowledge:

• Basic mathematics skills, computer and electronic record skills preferred.
• Ability to work with people of all ages and backgrounds.

Education:

• High School Graduate
• AA certificate preferred

Language:

• English/Chinese speaking preferred

Kalihi-Palama Health Center is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by applicable law.