Dental Patient Access Specialist

Metro Community Health Center is seeking a Dental Patient Access Specialist to support our busy dental clinic. In this front line role, you will greet and register patients, verify insurance, schedule and confirm appointments, manage referrals, and collect co payments while ensuring accurate entry of clinical and demographic information. You will coordinate closely with dentists, hygienists, and medical staff to optimize patient flow and deliver a seamless, patient centered experience. Ideal candidates bring strong customer service skills, attention to detail, experience with EMR systems, and a commitment to compassionate, community focused care.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for dental patients via phone and in person, providing courteous and professional customer service.
• Schedule, confirm, and reschedule dental appointments while optimizing provider schedules and minimizing wait times and no-shows.
• Register new patients and update returning patient information, ensuring accurate entry of demographics, insurance, and contact details in electronic systems.
• Verify dental and medical insurance eligibility and benefits, and obtain prior authorizations or referrals as required.
• Explain visit requirements, treatment-related appointments, and patient financial responsibilities in clear, patient-friendly language.
• Collect copays and outstanding balances at time of service and address basic billing and coverage questions, directing patients to financial counseling when needed.
• Manage appointment waitlists, recalls, and follow-up outreach to support continuity of care and reduce missed appointments.
• Coordinate closely with dentists, hygienists, and clinical staff to align scheduling with clinical needs and daily workflow.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, organizational policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in quality improvement and patient experience initiatives related to access, communication, and service delivery.

Required Skills

• Patient scheduling and coordination
• Dental and medical front office operations
• Insurance eligibility verification
• Dental insurance terminology and benefits interpretation
• Electronic Health Record (EHR) and dental practice management software
• Call center and high-volume phone handling
• Customer service and patient communication
• Basic billing and payment collection
• Data entry and record accuracy
• HIPAA and patient confidentiality compliance
• Bilingual or multilingual communication (e.g., Spanish/English)
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution
• Time management and multitasking