Operational Assistant -Dental Hygiene Clinic

Operations Assistant– Dental Hygiene Malcolm X College

Malcolm X College (MXC), Health Sciences Department operates a Dental Hygiene Clinic providing eligible patients with oral healthcare services including x-rays, exams, and cleanings. Services are provided by students who are supervised by MXC Faculty (licensed dental hygienists and dentists).

Services are open to the public; new patients receive a screening appointment during which time dental needs are assessed, necessary referrals are made, and eligibility for services is determined. Clinic is in operation during the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters.

Primary Objective

Reporting to the Senior Director-Health Sciences (Dental Hygiene), the Operations Assistant-Dental Hygiene Clinic provides administrative and clinical support for the Dental Hygiene Program. This position supports compliance with the Illinois State Board of Dentistry, the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), OSHA, IEMA (Illinois Emergency Management Agency), and other applicable regulatory agencies.

The Operations Assistant contributes to the coordination of daily clinic operations, maintains dental equipment and accurate records, supports quality assurance processes, and provides front-line administrative and patient support services in alignment with the mission and goals of the Dental Hygiene Program and Malcolm X College.

Essential Duties

Clinical Operations and Quality Assurance

• Maintains working knowledge of OSHA, CODA, HIPAA, and IEMA guidelines, including infection control protocols, radiation safety standards, and medical emergency procedures.
• Maintains, monitors, and documents equipment performance, sterilization processes, water testing, and operational maintenance logs.
• Processes and reconciles patient payments, ledgers, and chart audits while ensuring accuracy and compliance with CODA and college policies.
• Responds to patient inquiries, concerns, and scheduling with professionalism and confidentiality.
• Supports supply and inventory management for all clinic materials, instruments, and hazardous waste.
• Communicates regularly and works collaboratively with clinic coordinators and the Senior Director of Dental Hygiene to support daily clinic activities and to contribute to efficient operations.
• Assists in the sterilization area to maintain proper instrument processing procedures.

Front Desk and Patient Coordination

• Interacts directly and professionally with patients and students in a customer-focused manner.
• Answers incoming calls, maintains phone and voicemail systems, and schedules new and returning patient appointments.
• Serves as a liaison between students and patients regarding appointments and follow-up care.
• Takes accurate and detailed notes from patient voicemails and communicates relevant information to the appropriate student or clinic coordinator.
• Maintains HIPAA compliance in all patient interactions and recordkeeping.
• Communicates student schedule openings and coordinates patient assignments to support successful completion of curriculum and accreditation requirements.
• Collaborates with clinic coordinators to ensure consistent communication and patient management.
• Monitors student compliance with health and safety requirements, including immunizations, background checks, and drug screenings for work-based learning sites.

Administrative and Record Management

• Maintains and updates electronic patient records using Dentrix, Dexis, TalEval, or similar systems to support accuracy, accessibility, and compliance with college and accreditation standards; provides routine user assistance to other staff members and reports technical issues to appropriate support personnel or vendors
• Generates routine reports related to patient care, student clinical performance, and program data for CODA and institutional assessment.
• Facilitates communication and transfer of patient records and referrals with outside dental and medical providers in accordance with established procedures.
• Maintains relevant knowledge of the MXC Dental Hygiene Student Handbook and applies policies consistently in the performance of assigned duties.

Community and Institutional Alignment

• Promotes the mission, vision, and values of Malcolm X College within the Dental Hygiene Clinic.
• Serves as a point of contact for communications involving community members, institutional departments, and clinical partners, referring complex matters to program leadership.

Reporting Relationships

Reports To Senior Director-Health Sciences (Dental Hygiene)

Direct Supervision None

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required. Associates degree in business, healthcare, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in the dental field.
• Prior experience in dental hygiene education or clinical coordination preferred.
• Experience with TalEval or similar clinical evaluation systems preferred.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in dental practice management software (Dentrix or equivalent) preferred.
• Working knowledge of OSHA standards, HIPAA, and IEMA regulations.
• Familiarity with CODA standards preferred.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently, prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to learn and apply new software systems and procedural updates as required.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a culturally diverse environment while maintaining confidentiality.
• Some proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)

Salary range: $49,900.53 -$52,395.55

Funded by Perkins Grant

Approved by Compensation Design & Strategy Date: February 10, 2026

The intent of this job description is to provide a general description of the duties and responsibilities of this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive set of the duties and responsibilities, nor all of the necessary qualifications to perform the work.