Dental Assistant/Client Service Specialist (Riverside)

Client Service Specialist, Dental Assistant

If you're looking to be a part of a collaborative environment where your skills can make an impact, explore our current opportunities in creating a better future for public health.

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) includes a network of more than 1,100 public health professionals working together to improve health outcomes for the third most populous county in the United States. HCPH provides a multitude of services such as medical and dental services, community programming, and health education for the approximately 2.3 million people in unincorporated Harris County. Through its core values of innovation, engagement, and health equity, HCPH strives to bring meaningful solutions to public health issues while keeping Harris County healthy and vibrant.

Our Values: HCPH embraces a foundation of progressive work anchored by the department's cornerstone values guiding our work to improve community's health and well-being.

• Transparency - We share information openly and honestly so that staff, partners, and the community understand our actions and the reasons behind them.
• Integrity - Our actions reflect strong ethical principles, ensuring we remain trustworthy, accountable, and consistent with our mission.
• Respect - We foster a supportive environment by valuing diverse perspectives, listening intentionally, and treating people with dignity in every interaction.
• Impact - We focus our efforts on activities that improve health, reduce disparities, and create meaningful, measurable outcomes for the communities we serve.
• Collaboration - We actively partner across teams, disciplines, organizations, and communities to align our efforts toward common goals.

Position Overview: The Client Service Specialist, Dental Assistant, supports patient care services provided by the Dental Clinic. The CSS Dental Assistant is responsible for performing clinical tasks in accordance with all Harris County Public Health (HCPH) and Dental Program protocols. This position will work with the clinical team to create and maintain efficient, patient-centered daily clinic operations while providing comprehensive public health services to all Harris County Public Health Dental Clinic patients seeking dental services.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Receives, screens, interviews clients for eligibility determination, and registers clients; Co-pay collection, and receipt creation following financial services guidelines; prepares daily/weekly financial reconciliation report for submission to finance
• Performs all duties required as part of four handed chairside dental assisting; takes and records vital signs; takes prescribed dental radiographs and/or intraoral photographs; chart patient diagnoses in Dentrix electronic dental record as dictated by dentist
• Answers telephone inquiries from clients and others; screen calls to determine nature and urgency of inquiry, refers calls as appropriate, and/or schedules appointment with dental clinical staff; instructs patient as needed regarding visit-type; confirms scheduled appointments and updates appointment status in Dentrix electronic record
• Performs operatory set-up for each dental patient including barrier placement on high touch areas; procedure set up including instrument and dental material selection according to planned procedure
• Obtains patient histories, and insurance approvals as appropriate, prepares and updates dental charts and associated records; scans all correspondence into Dentrix electronic record
• Performs infection control and instrument sterilization according to dental policies and procedures; performs weekly biologic monitoring for autoclaves; performs daily, weekly and monthly dental preventive maintenance; reports any equipment malfunction or repair needs to the supervising dentist
• Performs in-operatory support for all dental staff during the dental visit as needed
• Provides oral hygiene and post-operative instructions to patients under the guidance of the dentist; Participate in school-based and community events to promote oral health

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• This is a full-time – regular position.
• Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm but these times may vary due to the variability of an event-based schedule.
• Other days and hours as necessary.

Work Environment:

• This job operates in both a clinical environment as well as in alternative community-based settings, including mobile dental events in different locations throughout Harris County. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers and scanners.

Physical Demands:

• Must possess the physical ability and manual dexterity to assist the dentist and dental hygienist with direct patient care in a dental clinical setting.

Work Location:

• Harris County Public Health: Riverside Clinic - 3204 Ennis St, Houston, TX 77004.

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.