Dental Receptionist

Job description

Description
The Dental Receptionist plays a vital role in supporting patient services across multiple dental sites. As the first point of contact for patients, this position is a key link between patients and the clinical team, ensuring that every interaction reflects TVHC’s commitment to compassionate and high-quality care.
The Receptionist provides administrative and clerical support for daily operations, including scheduling appointments, managing patient records, assisting with registration, and ensuring the front office runs smoothly. Success in this role requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a passion for helping others in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Schedule: This is a full-time position, working 40 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturday hours.
About TVHC: Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center is a nonprofit community health center dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of our community by providing accessible, high-quality care through the integration of primary care, dental care, WIC support, mental health counseling, community health education, and more.
Benefits: We offer excellent benefits, including: medical (100% paid co-payments, premiums, etc.), dental, vision (including dependent and domestic partner coverage), generous paid leave benefits including holidays, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement plans with an Employer match, tuition reimbursement, monthly treats, pet insurance, and more.
Compensation : $22.00 - $23.39 per hour, depending on experience.
This position is represented by SEIU, with compensation and benefits determined by the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Salary is based on the wage scales outlined in the agreement. Beyond base pay, TVHC provides a comprehensive compensation package that supports the health, wealth, and career development of our employees.
Responsibilities:
• Performs day-to-day administrative functions and general office duties including but not limited to word processing, copying, filing, faxing, answering phones and data entry.
• Maintains patient waiting areas, office files, and front-desk areas in a manner that is organized and neat.
• Must exercise utmost diplomacy and tact to provide excellent customer service for patients, practices confidentiality and privacy protocols in accordance to Clinic policies and HIPAA requirements.
• Welcomes and greets patients/clients/visitors to the department in a manner that is helpful and friendly; determines the purpose of visit and directs patients/clients/visitors to the appropriate person or department(s).
• Responsible for making patient appointments, providing phone reminders, and re-scheduling or canceling patient appointments when necessary; follows-up on “no show” patients on a daily basis.
• Verifies method of payment for service (MediCal, Medicare, private insurance, private payee, Healthy Families, etc.) and collects data and/or payment as appropriate.
• Assist patients in completing necessary insurance and dental department forms, solicits information from patients as needed; registers patient data into a variety of electronic and paper records (including “super bill”); pulls and prepares patient charts and prepares daily schedule for Dental Staff.
• Assists in triaging patients according to written protocols in order to prioritize appointments based on urgency, provider availability, and patient history.
• Performs regular audits of patient registration records to correct errors and ensure quality of data.
• Files data received from secondary providers in appropriate patient chart; re-files all patients’ charts according to the Center procedures.
• Routes “Request for Dental Records Release” to appropriate provider agencies.
• Performs all duties and service in full compliance with TVHC’s Service Excellence Standards.
• Provides information to Center callers according to the Center Policies and Procedures; transfers calls as needed; works with central reception to ensure adequate phone coverage at all times.
• Responsible for cashiering and collection duties in accordance with Center’s policies and procedures; may perform billing functions when necessary.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and expectations required of the position.
Requirements
• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish required.
• Minimum of one (1) year experience in a dental setting highly preferred.
• Knowledge of dental terminology, knowledge of the community, and other provider organizations in the community preferred.

Qualifications:
• Understands the importance of maintaining confidentiality; able to maintain confidentiality under HIPAA standards.
• Experience with EPIC is a plus.
• Must have the ability to exercise a high degree of diplomacy and tact; excellent customer service and interpersonal communication skills.
• Cultural sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work with diverse people groups.
• Intermediate to advanced phone skills; able to effectively relate via the telephone and in-person to serve the needs of Clinic patients/clients/visitors in a manner that is efficient and productive.
• Able to problem-solve, multi-task, and a self-starter with the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to work well under pressure with minimal supervision. Proven flexibility and willingness to handle a variety of tasks.
• Must be highly flexible; able to accommodate changing needs of the department.
• Ability to accept travel assignments as required to perform duties.