Dental Care Coordinator

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Dental Care Coordinator serves in an expanded oral health role to collaborate with specialists, dental laboratories, members of the healthcare team and patients/families to ensure the delivery of quality, efficient and cost-effective oral health services. They collaborate with a staff dentist to coordinate plans of care with patient/family, as well as monitor, and evaluate all options with the goal of optimizing patient's oral health status. They work with the clinical team internally and externally to utilize evidence based clinical guidelines, preventive guidelines and protocols to execute patient centered care plans.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Consults and communicate care objectives with dentists, specialists, dental laboratories and community resources to aid patients in achieving oral health goals.
• Assesses the healthcare, education and psychosocial needs of the patient/family.
• Identifies and maintains relationships with referral and community resources.
• Collaborates with dentists, patients, and the healthcare team, as well as community resources.
• Triages and resolves concerns for patients calling in.
• Provides resources and support related to referral processes, including management of pre-authorizations from insurance companies.
• Works with dentists to determine an individualized plan of care with targeted interventions, monitors patient and family's response to plan of care and consults with clinical team if modifications may be needed.
• Manage communication related to incoming and outgoing referrals.
• Maintains required documentation for all case management activities.
• Reviews current literature regarding engagement strategies, communication strategies and incorporates best practices into clinical settings.
• Maintains records and enters information into database as required.
• Collaborates with local emergency departments to reduce return visits to the ED for dental related conditions.
• Works with and manages our most complex patients to assure timely access to care and following treatment plan.
• Other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES:

Collaborative

• Displays willingness to make decisions, resolve conflict and delegate work assignments in a timely manner
• Adapts to change, takes responsibility for own actions to advance team goals
• Speaks and writes clearly and persuasively in formal and informal presentations
• Actively participates in meetings and uses listening skills to keep an open mind
• Solicits input from appropriate stakeholders, explains reasoning for decisions and uses strong interpersonal skills to communicate and influence others
• Gives recognition to others for results

Solid Character

• Balances team and individual responsibilities while assessing own strengths and weaknesses
• Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views
• Welcomes feedback, builds positive team spirit, supports all team members
• Develop alternative solutions, support and share expertise with other team members while building positive morale
• Demonstrates knowledge of company policies and treats people with respect
• Works ethically and with integrity, uphold organizational values
• Keeps commitments, shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences
• Educating others on the value of diversity promotes a positive work environment where all feel free to contribute

Organizational Support

• Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time and develops strategies to achieve organizational goals and values.
• Supports affirmative action and respect diversity, understands organization's strengths and weaknesses, analyzes market and competition, and identifies external threats and opportunities while adapting strategy to changing conditions.
• Prioritizes and plans work activities while understanding business implications of decisions.
• Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness within approved budget and displays original thinking and creativity.
• Displays knowledge of market and competition that aligns with strategic goals.
• Meets challenges with resourcefulness, generates suggestions for improving work, develops innovative approaches and ideas.

Leadership

• Displays passion and optimism while exhibiting confidence in self and others.
• Inspires respect and trust while motivating others to perform well and influencing actions and opinions of others.
• Coordinates projects, develops workable implementation plans, includes staff in planning, decision-making, and process improvement.

• Communicates and completes changes and progress of projects on time and on budget while managing project team activities to overcome resistance.
• Makes self-available to staff, provides regular performance feedback.
• Develops individual team member skills and encourages growth.

Safety and Security

• Promote safety precautions and security measures to ensure the safety of both staff and patients
• Adheres to data security guidelines, including appropriate use of EMR systems and IT resources

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work is performed in a clinical dental setting, contact patients and staff.
• Exposed to medicinal preparations, communicable disease, toxic substances, and other conditions common to a clinic environment.
• Requires at times, working in fast-paced clinical setting, in emergency situations or during irregular hours.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or listen.
• The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit; reach with hands and arms and stoop and kneel.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in the dental field as a dental assistant.
• Experience working in a dental front office and with dental insurance plans.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES:

• Demonstrates customer focused interpersonal skills to interact in an effective manner with practitioners, interdisciplinary health care team, community agencies, patients/families with diverse opinions, values as well as religious and cultural beliefs.
• Demonstrates excellent written, verbal/listening skills.
• Demonstrates positive relationship building skills and critical analysis skills.
• Demonstrates ability to work autonomously and be accountable for practice.
• Demonstrates ability to influence and negotiate individual and group decisions.
• Demonstrates ability to function in a fluid, dynamic, changing environment.
• Must have reliable transportation and valid driver's license to travel to office locations or other locations as assigned.