Bilingual Dental Health Care Patient Navigator

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

9d•$53,940 - $60,408•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Colorado College of Nursing seeks a full-time, benefits-eligible Bilingual Dental Health Care Patient Navigator for Sheridan Health Services (SHS), a multi-site, nurse-managed federally qualified community health center. The role combines dental referral coordination, patient navigation, and administrative support to promote access, engagement, and continuity of care. The navigator serves as a primary contact for dental patients, supports case management for dental professionals and other providers, and represents the clinic professionally while providing patient-centered service with discretion and respect for patients’ values and beliefs. The position is based on-site at Sheridan Health Services in Denver and may require staffing clinical sites in the community. The navigator coordinates dental referrals with clinic and community providers, tracks referrals and outcomes in the electronic health record, helps patients understand treatment plans, cost estimates, insurance coverage, and financial responsibilities, and connects patients with resources to address barriers to care. The role also includes patient outreach, appointment and referral follow-up, support for registration and documentation, insurance eligibility and prior authorization work, and collaboration with front desk and clinical staff. The navigator participates in community outreach and education, supports grant reporting and social determinants of health measures, and serves as a liaison to community partners. The position requires conversational Spanish and English skills in a clinical setting, current BLS/CPR certification by the date of hire, and maintenance of required credentials. The navigator must be able to work in a patient-care environment with some exposure to biological hazards and infectious diseases. The starting salary range is $53,940 to $60,408, and the role may be eligible for overtime compensation depending on level.

Requirements

Four years of experience working with patients in a health care setting, including at least one year of referral coordination in a clinical setting and/or an insurance company health plan referral unit; alternatively, a combination of related education and relevant experience equal to four years.
Conversational Spanish and English skills and willingness and ability to use them in a clinical setting.
Willingness and ability to obtain current BLS/CPR certification by the date of hire.
Willingness and ability to remain credentialed and keep credentialing materials current.
Willingness and ability to work in a patient-care environment with some exposure to biological hazards and infectious diseases.
Effective and professional oral and written communication skills.
Interpersonal skills to work effectively with patients, families, and interdisciplinary health care team members.
Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time independently.
Strong customer service skills and attention to detail.
Knowledge of health terminology and experience using electronic health record systems.
Ability to identify problems, research and recommend resolutions, and exercise discretion and appropriate decision-making.
Knowledge of HIPAA and OSHA compliance.
Intermediate-level computer competency.
Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize organizational needs.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a team member.
Responsibility, reliability, courtesy, and ability to maintain patient confidentiality.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship; visa sponsorship and employment authorization are not provided.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
Experience as a Care Coordinator, Case Manager, Patient Navigator, Dental Assistant, or Medical Assistant.
Experience working with health insurance.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for dental patients to support access, engagement, and continuity of care.
Coordinate dental referrals, including specialty referrals, with community and clinic providers; track referral completion and outcomes in the electronic health record.
Connect and empower patients and families to access resources and navigate specialty-care systems.
Communicate relevant diagnostic and clinical information for referrals and prior authorization requests.
Provide care navigation, including scheduling, referrals, prior authorization requests, and follow-up coordination for dental services.
Help patients understand dental treatment plans, estimates, insurance coverage, and financial responsibilities.
Screen for barriers to care, such as transportation, language, and insurance, and connect patients with resources.
Use strengths-based and recovery-based approaches, account for cultural considerations, and facilitate communication between patients and clinic team members, including interpretation support when applicable.
Assist with grant reporting and deliverables related to community-resource access and social determinants of health measures.
Conduct patient outreach by phone, text, or in person to reduce missed appointments and improve treatment completion.
Support patient intake, registration, and electronic health record documentation.
Maintain the Behavioral Oral Health Integration spreadsheet tracking referrals between dental and behavioral health service lines, particularly for patients identified with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Coordinate with the front desk to reschedule broken appointments according to clinic policies.
Check Epic and CORHIO for emergency room or hospital visits and schedule follow-up when needed.
Support on-site and off-site community outreach, education, and oral health promotion, including occasional after-hours or weekend events.
Assist with insurance verification and eligibility screening, and process health referrals by checking insurance eligibility and connecting patients to appropriate resources.
Communicate clinical issues to clinical staff; obtain prior authorization or pre-certification; answer phones; complete HIPAA-compliant registration; provide customer service, basic phone triage, and scheduling as needed.
Determine eligibility for services based on established criteria and provider capacity; gather patient demographic and health information; and schedule appointments in line with insurance plans and health needs.
Perform administrative referral work and tracking through completion; collaborate with the front desk and respond promptly to patient and team requests.
Manage and process releases and requests of information.
Help the front desk schedule dental visits while accounting for patient-specific needs and accommodations.
Work with the dental assistant team to track and stock supplies and maintain and store sterilized instruments.
Coordinate with patients and the pharmacy as indicated or requested by providers and participate in medication insurance prior authorizations as needed.
Build relationships with community resources to support a seamless referral process and attend community partner meetings as a representative of the SHS team.
Serve as clinic liaison to community partners, including Children’s Hospital Colorado, CU Anschutz School of Medicine, Sheridan School District, Urban Peak, and Family Voices.
Comply with HIPAA, FQHC regulations, University policies, and applicable confidentiality requirements.