DENTAL PATIENT ADVOCATE

Palms Medical Group•Williston, FL

About The Position

The Dental Patient Advocate is responsible providing exceptional front desk and clerical support within the dental office. This includes greeting patients, managing phone communications, scheduling appointments, processing referrals and authorizations, collecting payments, and maintaining accurate patient dental records in the EDR. The advocate plays a key role in ensuring positive patient experience and supporting the operational efficiency of Palms Medical Group.

Requirements

Must be organized, a self-starter and detailed oriented
Job duties require the ability to work independently and as part of a team
Expected to travel and cover other sites during Dental Patient Advocate absences
Assist in the training and mentoring of coworkers by sharing knowledge, providing guidance, and supporting skill development.
Employee shall be able to read and interpret written dental instructions
Employee will know how to efficiently operate NextGen,
Employee will be expected to navigate and operate Microsoft Office suite products, including Word, Excel and Teams
High School Diploma or Equivalent
Current BLS (basic life support) Certification
Effectively communicates complex and/or technical information to co-workers, patients and/or vendors
Standing for long periods of time
Sitting for long periods of time
Viewing a computer monitor for long periods of time
Bending
Stretching / Reaching
Walking short distances
Lifting up to 50 pounds
Operating office equipment (computer, fax machines, telephones and copy machines)
Reading forms / Instructions / Patients Charts
Communicating well to people of various ages, educational levels, cultural backgrounds in person or by telephone
Exposure to potentially violent / irate patients
Exposure to chemical infectious / contagious illness
Exposure to chemical and inhalation of antibiotics during reconstitution
Exposure to X-Ray radiation
Exposure to a variety of scents and odors
Must utilize universal precaution in clinical or exposure situations as prescribed by federal state, and local guidelines and /or laws

Responsibilities

Greet and assist patients warmly upon arrival to the office
Answer, screen and route telephone professionally and efficiently.
Resolve patient inquiries and concerns, using sound judgement to determine appropriate solutions.
Foster positive relationships with patients to promote satisfaction and loyalty
Accurately collect and enter patient demographic, insurance, consent and medical/dental history information
Maintain knowledge of accepted insurances including deductibles, premiums, frequency limitations and provider charges.
Assist patients with enrollment in the sliding fee scale program.
Enter data accurately into NextGen and Luma systems
Maintain efficient patient flow and ensure a clean, organized front desk and patient waiting area
Schedule and pre-schedule appointments as needed.
Direct patients, visitors and vendors to the appropriate departments.
Verify patient encounters and procedure and diagnosis codes.
Collect payments for services rendered and outstanding balances (medical and dental)
Perform end-of-day reconciliation, including balancing the cash drawer, submitting deposits and reports to the Finance Department, and maintaining accurate logs.
Coordinate referrals to specialists or external providers for additional dental care.
Explain the referral process to patients, including provider information and directions.
Accurately enter and submit referral information through insurance portals.
Understand which insurance plans require prior authorizations and how to document them.
Navigate insurance web sites to obtain authorizations
Gather and submit required information (e.g.: diagnosis codes, insurance details and patient ID)
Adhere to the Front Desk Policy Manual, Dental Policy Manual and HIPAA Policy Manual
Check and respond to emails at least twice daily.
Assist the Executive VP of Patient Services with data collection for UDS and grant applications.
Support audits and surveys and other administrative tasks as assigned
Perform additional duties to support the efficiency and effectiveness of PMG operations.