Dental Receptionist

January 2026

SUMMARY:

The Dental Receptionist is an important member of the service delivery team, providing excellent customer service by greeting patients promptly and personably and facilitating the patient’s access to the point of service delivery, so that all patients can be seen within targeted time and schedule. Prepared to enroll or renew registration; the timeliness of work directly supports responsiveness to patients, including visit redesign and well-paced patient flow. The Dental Receptionist manages appointment schedules for service providers, keeping patients and staff informed of the daily schedule.  The Dental Receptionist collects cash and enters accurate billing documentation. This team member continually updates his/her computer and service knowledge skills in order to function effectively with Electronic Medical Records (EMR). 

EXPECTATIONS:

·         Arrives on time and adheres to set schedule.

·         Consistently and openly communicates with supervisor and all staff

·         Collects and records data accurately

·         Works flexible or extended hours where necessary

·         Participates in health center in-services, listening and respecting others’ ideas

·         Abides by Rules of Confidentiality

·         Demonstrates awareness of, and compliance with, organizational mission and objective of Camarena Health to provide health care access and support services for all members of the community.

·         Use of professionalism and best efforts in your position.

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITES

Focus on Intake Facilitation:

1.0               Focus on Intake Facilitation:

1.1               Greets patients and Initiates the registrations process for patient services

1.2               Educates clients on the services provided by the clinic and the programs 
 available that offer assistance with the cost for health services 

1.3               Assures and/or completes enrollment and verifies all financial coverage’s emphasizing third party enrollment and including any discount programs available through the health center

1.4               Focuses on both general and financial intake of patients; accurately inputs personal and financial data into to Dentrix Software by soliciting necessary information (i.e financial forms, consent forms, dental history, etc.). 

1.5               Performs income eligibility analysis for patients to determine sliding fee eligibility and/or adjustments.

1.6               Performs cashier and collection duties in accordance with Camarena policies and procedures; computes fees and collect payment for services; post all payments to accounts receivable cards.

1.7               Makes appointments for patients accordingly, facilitate patient access to care within a timely manner.

1.8               Maintains communication with Dental staff regarding status of waiting patients and keeps all waiting patients informed of their status and projected time of service delivery

1.9               Follow up on “no-show” patients on a daily basis.

1.10           Correct registration errors & assist other team members with patients as necessary.

1.11           Work with various agencies (i.e. schools, county health department, etc.) in scheduling patients.

2.0               Focus on Dental Patient Information: 

2.1          Establishes, maintains, and monitors patient dental records.

2.2               Scan data received from secondary providers into appropriate patient chart.                        

2.3               Provide “Dental Records Release” forms to appropriate department.

2.4               Review patient super bills for completion of all patient identification such as: pay codes; provider codes; procedures and services provided; diagnosis and the corresponding diagnostic code. 

3.0               Focus on Scheduling: 

3.1               Manages and maintains patient appointments; schedules according to standard for all services and staff as assigned

3.2               Interacts supportably with patients regarding procedures for available service; orients patients to required information needed at time of service for optimum care; provides patients with awareness of general procedure costs

3.3               Coordinates Dentist schedules to maximize appointment availability with patients concerning rescheduling reasons and alternatives

3.4               Acts as back-up to Telephone Receptionist

4.0               Focus on Corporate Expectations/Standards: 

4.1               Attends and actively participates in all meetings (e.g., team meetings, department meetings, program meetings, case management meetings, employee staff meetings) and other activities as required or assigned.

4.2               Attends workshops/seminars as necessary to increase skills and knowledge to provide effective support.

5.0               Focus on Teamwork:

5.1               Employees are expected to work as a team, and be flexible to work at our other facilities as needed.

5.2               Works flexible or extended hours where necessary

5.3               Demonstrates self-initiative & self-motivation to help the team with work flow; good team player.  Acquires and maintains the knowledge and skill necessary to work in all service pods.

5.4               All Dental Receptionists act as back-up to each other by learning all functions and assisting with reception, scheduling, and cashiering

5.5               Various other duties as assigned by supervisor; duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted, or changed at any time at the discretion of management, formally or informally, verbally, or in writing

6.0                Focus on Corporate Expectations/Standards:

6.1               Attends and actively participates in all meetings (e.g., department meetings, program meetings, employee staff meetings) and other activities as required or assigned

6.2               Demonstrates awareness of, and compliance with, organizational mission and objective of Camarena Health to provide health care access and support services for all members of the community

6.3               Maintains confidentiality and respect for information regarding patients and other team members; abides by Camarena Health Rules of Confidentiality

Minimum Requirements:

Education:          

• High School Diploma or GED 

Prior Experience:                             

• Minimum one-year work experience in dental office setting.
• Experience equivalent to two years in general or dental office procedures.

Skills:

·         Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred.

·         Excellent oral and written skills.

·         Intermediate computer skills

·         Keyboarding (20 wpm); software management 

·         Knowledge of dental terminology and standard abbreviations used in dental notations.

·         Telephone courtesy; customer-service oriented.

·         Modern office practices and procedures including email.

·         Intermediate to expert user computer skills.

·         Well organized, systematic, prompt

·         Attention to detail and excellent follow-through on work tasks.

·         Demonstrated good problem-solving skills.

·         Able to track multiple tasks and complete promptly.

·         Correct grammar and spelling

·         10 Key calculators

·         Able to quickly build and maintain rapport with patients and providers of differing backgrounds; team player.

Physical Requirements: 

• Must be able to move up to 20 pounds and push up to 50 pounds (on wheels).
• Must be able to hear staff on the phone and those who are served in-person, and speak clearly in order to communicate information to clients and staff.
• Must be able to have vision that is adequate to read memos, a computer screen, personnel forms and clinical and administrative documents.
• Must have average manual dexterity.
• Must be able to reach above the shoulder level to work, must be able to bend, squat and sit, stand, stoop, crouching, reaching, kneeling, twisting/turning, fingering and feeling.