Position Summary:
Heartland Health Center (HHC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), which provides affordable and comprehensive primary healthcare, behavioral health, and dental care to medically uninsured, under-insured, and low- income individuals and families in Grand Island and surrounding communities.
The Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) is responsible for improving access to oral healthcare services through patient case management, community outreach, oral health education, and care coordination. This position serves as a liaison between patients, dental providers, community organizations, and insurance entities to help patients overcome barriers to care and successfully complete recommended dental treatment. The CDHC also provides preventive oral health services, community screenings, and educational programs that promote lifelong oral health. This position operates in a combination of dental clinic, school, community, and outreach settings. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required to support community events and educational programs.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Follow up with patients to ensure they understand their treatment plans and recommended dental care.
- Monitor patient compliance with scheduled appointments and treatment recommendations, encouraging treatment completion.
- Assist patients in navigating the dental care system and accessing available services.
- Coordinate care between dental providers, medical providers, specialists, schools, community agencies, and other stakeholders as needed.
- Identify barriers to dental care, including transportation challenges, financial limitations, language differences, insurance issues, and other social determinants of health.
- Manage incoming and outgoing dental referrals.
- Coordinate specialty referrals and track referral completion.
- Obtain and distribute necessary records, radiographs, and documentation.
- Follow up with patients and referral providers to ensure continuity of care.
- Prepare and submit pre-authorizations for dental procedures.
- Assist patients in understanding insurance coverage and financial responsibilities.
- Provide individual and group oral health education to patients, families, schools, and community organizations.
- Promote preventive oral health practices, including proper oral hygiene techniques, nutrition counseling, tobacco cessation, and disease prevention.
- Develop and distribute educational materials that support oral health awareness.
- Conduct community oral health outreach programs, screenings, and preventive services.
- Participate in health fairs, school-based programs, and community events.
- Build partnerships with schools, healthcare organizations, social service agencies, and community groups to increase access to oral healthcare.
- Collect and report outreach and program data as required.
- Provide preventive dental hygiene services within the scope of licensure and organizational policies.
- Maintain accurate patient records and documentation in the electronic dental record system.
Education and Experience
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene from an accredited program.
- Current Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) license in the state of Nebraska.
- Public Health Authorization license in state of Nebraska
- Local Anesthesia Certification in state of Nebraska
- Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) certification preferred or willingness to obtain certification when an approved training program becomes available.
- Current CPR/BLS certification.
- Active and unrestricted driver’s license in the state of Nebraska
- 1 + years of experience in dental hygiene, public health, community outreach, case management, and/or care coordination preferred.
- 1+ years of Experience working with underserved populations and diverse communities preferred.
- Knowledge of dental insurance processes, referrals, and pre-authorizations preferred.
- Bilingual proficiency (English/Spanish) required.
- Strong communication and patient education skills.
- Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
- Ability to build collaborative relationships with patients, community partners, and healthcare providers.
- Knowledge of preventive dentistry and public health principles.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Proficiency with electronic dental records and standard office software.
- Ability to travel within the community to outreach events, schools, and partner organizations.
- Ability to perform dental hygiene and screening activities.
- Ability to sit, stand, bend, and lift materials and equipment associated with outreach activities.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of
this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit; use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear at normal ranges within the setting. The employee occasionally is required to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch and/or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift, carry, and/or move
more than 25 pounds. Rapid mobility may also be required on occasions. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust
focus. Stress level may be high due to frequently dealing with physicians, family members, and other healthcare providers.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Employee may be requested to perform other duties or tasks that are not listed, but are within the competence and training of the individual.
Heartland Health Center provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, HHC complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
