Dental Coordinator

Esperanza Health Center•Philadelphia, PA

1d•$19 - $25

About The Position

The Dental Coordinator supports the effective operation of the Dental Department through administrative coordination, front desk support, and non-clinical dental care coordination. The role maintains provider schedules and departmental procedures, supports clerical staff, coordinates patient outreach and referrals, manages dental prior authorizations and benefit limit exceptions, and assists with departmental reporting and improvement projects. The Coordinator helps ensure administrative processes are completed, patient care needs are followed up on, and communication across departments and outside providers is maintained. This is a full-time position.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, with the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, with patients, staff, and external contacts in both languages.
Proficiency with computers and the ability to learn electronic health records, office applications, databases, and other software systems.
Ability to maintain accurate records, follow established procedures, and handle confidential information appropriately.
Ability to learn, apply, and reinforce established workflows and procedures when guiding and training clerical staff.
Self-directed, reliable, and motivated, with demonstrated initiative and follow-through.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, including the ability to manage multiple responsibilities, prioritize competing demands, and meet deadlines.
Strong learning ability, including capacity to quickly understand new systems, processes, policies, and technical information.
Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to identify discrepancies, investigate issues, recognize workflow problems, and determine when to seek guidance or escalate concerns.
Effective verbal and written communication skills; ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and compassionately with patients, staff, and external contacts and explain information accessibly to people with varying health literacy.
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment within established guidelines, and collaborate effectively with colleagues across departments.
Demonstrated cultural humility and cross-cultural sensitivity.
Commitment to patient-centered service, teamwork, and the mission and values of Esperanza Health Center.
Serve all patients in a Christ-like manner, with respect, humility, love, and self-control.

Nice To Haves

Dental or medical experience is preferred but not required.
Familiarity with spreadsheets and data tracking is desirable.

Responsibilities

Manage provider schedules, including loading, maintaining, and updating provider templates in the electronic health record (EHR).
Assist in creating, reviewing, and maintaining dental forms, workflows, and standard operating procedures.
Manage incoming and outgoing departmental mail and correspondence, including sorting, reviewing, distributing, and securely disposing of documents as appropriate.
Coordinate patient outreach, including appointment reminder calls and follow-up with patients who miss appointments.
Reconcile daily patient collections and process payment voids, corrections, and other transactions according to established procedures.
Investigate and help resolve patient questions and discrepancies related to account balances and payments, coordinating with Billing or Finance as needed.
Provide front-desk assistance during high-volume periods and staffing shortages, including answering phones, performing pre-visit checks, and supporting other clerical functions.
Monitor and coordinate clerical productivity and quality metrics; identify recurring issues and coordinate follow-up and process improvement.
Train clerical assistants on established workflows, procedures, and departmental systems.
Prepare, submit, and track benefit limit exception (BLE) requests and dental prior authorizations, monitor their status, and coordinate follow-up.
Track outstanding dental treatment needs and coordinate patient outreach and follow-up to support completion of recommended care.
Coordinate dental referrals, including processing referrals, communicating with specialty offices, tracking referral status, assisting with appointment coordination, obtaining consultation records, and following up on outstanding referrals.
Coordinate patient care across departments to support continuity and communication among the dental team, other departments, and outside providers.
Assist patients in navigating dental services, understanding next steps in the care process, and connecting with appropriate resources.
Identify barriers to completing recommended care and coordinate follow-up or escalation to appropriate staff.
Prepare, maintain, and assist with analysis of dental department reports and operational tracking data.
Participate in departmental quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives, risk management activities, and other operational improvement projects.
Coordinate assigned departmental projects, including tracking tasks, deadlines, and follow-up.
Participate in departmental and interdepartmental meetings and assist with implementing resulting action items.
Collaborate with other departments to support effective workflows, communication, and coordination of services.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with organizational policies, procedures, and applicable privacy requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of dental department operations and organizational goals.