Dental Receptionist

CHC•Everett, WA

About The Position

The Dental Receptionist works with clinic support staff and healthcare providers and performs clerical, reception, and administrative tasks. The role includes answering and screening calls, taking messages, scheduling appointments, obtaining billing information, checking in patients, and maintaining patient demographic data. The position is scheduled for 35 hours per week, with 7-hour shifts five days per week and one required Saturday per month. The receptionist supports patient flow and clinic operations by registering and scheduling patients, updating electronic records, helping verify insurance eligibility and sliding-fee information, receiving payments, maintaining financial records, and preparing daily deposits. The role also involves coordinating interpreter and transportation services, managing records and documents, maintaining the reception area and supplies, operating and troubleshooting office equipment, and adhering to infection-control and attendance standards.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent.
Proficient in reading, speaking, understanding, and writing English.
Able to work independently and be self-directed, as well as work effectively in a team environment.
Able to organize, prioritize, and coordinate multiple activities and tasks.
Able to work with initiative, energy, and effectiveness in a fast-paced environment and produce work in high quantity and quality.
Able to problem-solve creatively and remain calm and effective in high-pressure and emergency situations.
Ability to use multiline telephones and other office machines.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
One year of customer-service-related experience working with the general public.
One year of clerical, reception, dental assisting, administrative, or secretarial experience, or a combination of equivalent education and work experience.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual skills.
Knowledge of dental terminology.
Graduate of an accredited Office Skills Certification Program or a related field.
Graduate of an accredited Dental Administrative Assistant Certification program or a related field.
Experience working with insurance or billing in a healthcare setting or insurance organization.
Experience in a multiple-provider dental practice.
Familiarity with digital imaging.
Experience with healthcare information systems, such as electronic health records and practice management systems.
Experience working with low-income, multi-ethnic populations.

Responsibilities

Greet patients, interpreters, and visitors promptly and courteously in person and by phone; respond to inquiries, take messages, and provide accurate information about schedules and services.
Check in, register, and schedule patients in the practice management system; maintain appointment schedules in accordance with office policies and confirm appointments as needed.
Verify and update patient demographic information in the electronic record at each visit.
Assist with patient flow, including coordinating walk-in and add-on patients and communicating with the back office about walk-ins, cancellations, recalls, and delays.
Route or file documents and mail appropriately.
Assist with insurance eligibility verification and verify income for sliding-fee patients; help complete sliding-fee applications as delegated.
Receive patient payments, answer or refer billing questions, and maintain accurate records of financial transactions.
Prepare daily bank deposits and reconcile receipts, including cash, checks, and bankcard transactions, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and security.
Order interpreter and transportation services and coordinate with outside organizations regarding patient services.
File and retrieve charts from storage and accurately log chart movements while protecting the confidentiality of patient information.
Open and close the clinic and reception areas for business hours.
Keep the work area and reception lobby neat and orderly, and maintain adequate inventory of office supplies and clinical forms.
Maintain and troubleshoot office equipment, including calculators, copiers, fax machines, and printers.
Assist other departments when called upon.
Follow organizational infection-control practices and the written plan, and meet attendance standards to support daily operations and continuity of patient care.