Patient Coordinator

Patient Coordinator

The Patient Coordinator plays a critical role in ensuring a positive patient experience by effectively communicating treatment plans, coordinating care, and managing financial arrangements. This role requires excellent interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and the ability to facilitate trust between the patient and the clinical team.

Patient Communication & Case Presentation

• Present comprehensive treatment plans recommended by the dentist to patients.
• Educate patients on procedures, timelines, and the importance of recommended care.
• Answer patient questions regarding treatment, insurance, and financial options.

Financial Coordination

• Provide accurate treatment estimates based on insurance verification and fee schedules.
• Discuss payment plans, third-party financing, and other financial arrangements.
• Collect co-pays, pre-payments, and schedule future payments as needed.

Insurance & Scheduling

• Verify insurance coverage and benefits prior to treatment presentation.
• Ensure proper pre-authorizations are obtained when required.
• Coordinate with front office and clinical team to schedule procedures efficiently.

Administrative Support

• Maintain accurate records of presented and accepted treatment plans.
• Follow up with patients on unscheduled treatment.
• Track case acceptance rates and contribute to patient retention efforts.
• Support front desk team as needed with check-in/check-out processes.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate's or bachelor's degree preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in a dental office setting, with a focus on treatment coordination, patient relations, or insurance billing.
• Strong knowledge of dental procedures and terminology.
• Familiarity with dental software (e.g., Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental).
• Exceptional communication, sales, and customer service skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Bilingual skills are a plus.

Key Competencies

• Patient-focused mindset
• Professional demeanor and appearance
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Ability to multitask and adapt to a fast-paced environment
• Team-oriented with a proactive attitude

Who We Are

Smile Programs is the nation's leading in-school dental program founded almost two decades ago by two moms, who happen to also be dentists. The founders saw a tremendous need among underserved school aged children who did not have easy access to dental care and who often suffered from poor oral hygiene, tooth decay, pain and associated medical problems. Knowing that many parents could not take their children to the dentist due to issues including time off from work and transportation challenges, they sought to bring the care to the need. Today, through its dental partners, Smile Programs provides preventative and restorative care to approximately 500,000 children per year.

Tooth decay is the most common, and preventable disease among children, more common than asthma. In fact, each year, over 51 million school hours are lost due to oral health related issues.

Smile Programs affiliates with state licensed dentists, hygienists and assistants who use state-of-the-art portable equipment to provide all services onsite, directly in the school or in a self-contained mobile dental facility on site at the school. If portable equipment is used, classrooms, auditoriums or other school venues are literally transformed into fully functional dental offices for the day. Our expertise, obtained through years of experience bringing mobile dental care to schools, as well as through our highly qualified staff, enables us to bring exceptional care with minimal disruption to the normal school routine.

Smile Programs is currently active in 20 states and has ongoing strategic partnerships with over 8,000 school districts, including 21 of the 25 largest school districts in the country.

Given the ongoing lack of access for many underserved children across the country, our services are in great demand and we are always looking for caring, compassionate professionals to join our team and play their part in making a difference in the lives of today's underserved children.

Smile Programs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status.