Dental School Access Coordinator

Dental School Access Coordinator

The Dental School Access Coordinator serves as the primary front-office point of contact for the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine Clinics. This position is responsible for answering incoming telephone calls, greeting patients and visitors, coordinating access to the appropriate faculty, staff, students, and departments, and supporting efficient front-desk operations. The Access Coordinator helps ensure a professional, courteous, and responsive experience for patients and visitors while supporting appointment communication, message accuracy, and daily administrative workflow. This position reports to the LCSDM Clinic Manager and supports the overall operations of the clinical enterprise.

Duties and Responsibilities :

• Answer and manage a high volume of incoming telephone calls in a professional, courteous, and efficient manner.
• Route calls accurately to appropriate faculty, students, clinic staff, departments, and administrative offices.
• Take clear, complete, and timely messages and ensure prompt delivery to the appropriate parties.
• Greet patients, visitors, vendors, and guests and direct them to the appropriate clinic, office, or waiting area.
• Provide general information regarding clinic hours, locations, services, and standard procedures, consistent with approved guidelines.
• Direct appointment inquiries and scheduling-related communications to the appropriate personnel.
• Monitor front desk activity to ensure an organized, welcoming, and professional reception area.
• Maintain accurate logs of calls, messages, and other front-office communications as needed.
• Escalate urgent, sensitive, or unresolved calls and visitor concerns to the appropriate supervisor or department.
• Assist with scanning, filing, mail distribution, and other clerical duties that support clinic operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support clinic and administrative operations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

Individual must possess the knowledge and the following skills and abilities or be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities:

• Excellent verbal communication skills and professional telephone etiquette.
• Ability to manage multiple incoming calls and inquiries while maintaining accuracy, responsiveness, and courtesy.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills, with the ability to interact professionally with patients, students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
• Ability to route calls and messages appropriately and exercise sound judgment in determining urgency and proper contacts.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in handling messages, appointment inquiries, and routine administrative tasks.
• Basic computer proficiency and ability to learn clinic scheduling, messaging, and administrative systems quickly.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and service-oriented in a busy clinical and academic environment.

Requirements

• Education: High school diploma or GED required; associate degree preferred.
• Experience: Prior front desk, patient access, customer service, or administrative support experience required; experience in a healthcare, dental, or academic setting preferred.
• Technical skills: Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office and ability to learn dental clinic or practice-management software.
• Communication and compliance: Strong written and verbal communication skills required, with the ability to follow institutional policies, front-office procedures, and confidentiality requirements.
• Physical demands: Ability to sit or stand for extended periods; frequent use of telephone and computer; ability to perform repetitive hand motions related to typing and phone use.

Work Conditions:

• Work is primarily indoors in a clinic and office environment.
• Performing duties and attending events outside the normally scheduled work hours occasionally occurs and is required.
• Traveling between local campus buildings, off campus, and to other Lyon College facilities may occasionally be required.
• Incumbent may be exposed to frequent noise caused by telephones, office machines, dental equipment, and nearby oral communications among School personnel, students, and patients.
• Work hours may vary based on clinic schedules and operational needs.

Lyon College is a USN&WR "top tier" national liberal arts college and recognized by Forbes as "One of America''s Top Colleges." Founded in 1872, the College is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Arkansas and offers undergraduates exceptional preparation for their post-baccalaureate objectives, particularly in STEM fields, Business, Economics and Accounting, and the Arts. The Lyon College Institute of Health Sciences in Little Rock will house the College''s professional programs, including the School of Oral Health and Dental Medicine, as well as the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Interested candidates should apply electronically at www.lyon.edu/employment. Review of the applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled. To learn more about Lyon College go to www.lyon.edu.

Lyon College does not discriminate with respect to the hiring of applicants or with respect to the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin. It is the continuing policy of Lyon College to comply with any applicable state and federal law regarding equal employment opportunities.

Advertisement: Lyon College School of Dental Medicine seeks a professional, service-oriented Access Coordinator to serve as the primary front-office contact for patients, visitors, students, and clinic personnel.

The ideal candidate will have strong telephone communication, customer service, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage high call volume, route inquiries accurately, and support efficient clinic operations in a fast-paced environment.