Enjoy the rewards of working with a dentist creating brighter smiles! This exciting new online Administrative Dental Assistant Program can help you can make a difference. The essential skills you will learn in this program will allow you to gain the edge you need to be an entry level administrative dental assistant.

Learn how to:

• Interact with patients and the dental team. Obtain health histories and maintain patient records. Understand dental terminology. Schedule patients and master recall systems. Assist the dentist in caring for patients. Use the computer to maximize efficiency in the dental office. Recognize signs and symptoms of illness and disease.
• Perform administrative duties in the dental office.

And you'll learn it all with Gatlin Education Service's online, self-paced program. You'll get valuable information about the administrative dental assisting field all from the comfort of your own home, studying at your own pace. The Administrative Dental Assistant works on behalf of the patient as well as the dentist in helping to assure a high level of professional excellence in oral health care delivery.

Administrative Dental Assisting is a rewarding career in a growing field. As an Administrative Dental Assistant you can work with patients and be a part of a professional dental staff. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for professional dental assistants will rise, and it is expected to be one of the fastest growing professions through the year 2012.

In smaller practices, the assistant might work with the dentist as well as managing the business aspects of the practice such as scheduling, billing and purchasing. In larger practices the duties may be more specialized. Many dental assistants are qualified to take X-rays... expose radiographs as it is properly called. In most dental offices, the dental assistant is in charge of infection control procedures, which are closely regulated by OSHA (the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration). The complexity and importance of this task is a real challenge for any professional, requiring constant updates to remain current with registrations.

Procedures a dental assistant may perform are regulated on a state by state basis and may not include duties assigned to dental hygienists. But the varied activities of an assistant in most states make for a challenging, interesting, and responsible position whether chairside or in the business office.

Job prospects for dental assistants are excellent. Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2012. In fact, dental assisting is expected to be one of the fastest growing occupations through the year 2012.

In addition to job openings due to employment growth, numerous job openings will arise out of the need to replace assistants who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Many opportunities are for entry-level positions offering on-the-job training.

Population growth and greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people will fuel demand for dental services. Older dentists, who have been less likely to employ assistants, are leaving the occupation and will be replaced by recent graduates, who are more likely to use one or even two assistants. In addition, as dentists' workloads increase, they are expected to hire more assistants to perform routine tasks, so that they may devote their own time to more profitable procedures.

Students in the online Administrative Dental Assistant program will learn about the care of patients as well as how to assist with dental administrative duties. The online program also covers interpersonal communication, interaction with patients and co-workers, as well as assisting the dentist with various administrative duties. These include fee collection, banking, and accounts payable, as well as basic information about dental insurance. The administrative dental assisting course is a vital asset to the student who wishes to work in this exciting and rewarding career field. Textbooks are included!

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FEATURES

This nationally recognized Administrative Dental Assistant online certificate program teaches the essential administrative tasks for managing the business aspects of a dental practice and becoming an Administrative Dental Assistant. This program includes instruction in dental terminology and anatomy, medical records management, accounts receivable and reimbursement management, insurance and patient billing, patient scheduling, and procedural and diagnostic coding. The Administrative Dental Assistant program will prepare you for a new career working in a dental office. Textbooks included. This course is only offered through major colleges and universities.

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TOPIC HIGHLIGHTS

1. The Dental Profession
   1. Orientation to the Dental Profession
   2. Dental Basics
2. Interpersonal and Communications Skills
   1. Communications Skills and Telephone Techniques
   2. Written Correspondence
   3. Patient Relations
   4. Dental Healthcare Team Communications
3. Records Management
   1. Patient Clinical Records
   2. Information Management
4. Scheduling and Recall Systems
   1. Dental Patient Scheduling
   2. Recall Systems
5. Dental Insurance Processing
6. Financial Management
   1. Financial Arrangements and Collection Procedures
   2. Bookkeeping Procedures: Accounts Receivable
   3. Bookkeeping Procedures: Accounts Payable
7. Office Equipment and Inventory
   1. Inventory Management
   2. Chapter Sixteen - Office Equipment
8. Computers in the Dental Office
9. Employment Strategies

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CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

A 70% or better must be achieved in order to receive a Certificate of Completion.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of this program, students will:

• Understand the role of the administrative dental assistant.
• Know the basics of dental practice.
• Develop communications skills for use with patients and coworkers.
• Develop excellent telephone technique.
• Produce professional written correspondence.
• Relate to patients in a professional, caring manner.
• Understand teamwork in the dental office.
• Maintain quality patient records.
• Understand information management in the dental office.
• Become proficient with scheduling and recall systems.
• Process dental insurance.
• Perform inventory management and equipment maintenance.
• Know bookkeeping and collection procedures.
• Use the computer to promote efficiency.
• Develop employability skills and strategies.

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PDF BROCHURE

Please click here to download the PDF brochure for the Gatlin online courses offered by OCPE.

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WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Students should be proficient in keyboarding, have a basic understanding of a word processing computer program (Microsoft Word recommended), and have a command of English grammar and punctuation. No dental office work experience is required.

The target audience for the Administrative Dental Assistant program is individuals interested in learning job skills for dental office opportunities or individuals interested in changing job skills to become administrative dental assistants.

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Carline Dalgleish has been employed in the Allied Healthcare profession since 1970 and is a part-time George Mason University, OCPE, Gatlin instructor. She began in the Medical Records department of the Army/Air Force Hospital in Nuremberg, Germany and moved "through the ranks" over the years, performing insurance billing, coding, and accounts receivable management services for physicians, clinics, hospitals and even the Healthcare Financing Administration (now CMS). She has real-time experience in physician and hospital coding, as well as management experience in compliance, information technology, and services and procedural and diagnostic coding instruction. In the early 90's, Carline moved full-time into curriculum development, teaching, and management of allied health education programs, with special emphasis on Medical Billing and Coding. Carline is a Certified Medical Assistant - Administrative, a licensed practical nurse, and holds a bachelor's degree in business information systems. She is a member of the National Dean's Scholars List, AHIMA, PAHCOM, AAMA, AAPC, CCST, AAMT and AMTIE. She currently owns and operates COUGAR-Ed.net, which specializes in development and delivery of continuing education products, seminars, and services.

Alexandra P. Young is the author of the nineth edition of Kinn's The Medical Assistant: An Applied Learning Approach and the fifth edition of Kinn's The Administrative Medical Assistant both published by W.B. Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Science. These textbooks are consistently top sellers in the United States within the medical assisting field. Ms. Young is currently contracted to author textbooks on medical billing and coding, medical law and ethics, and chiropractic assisting. She has been a medical assistant for over 23 years, and has worked in various areas of the health care industry. Ms. Young is in demand as a subject matter expert and guest speaker with regard to administrative and management skills for medical offices, and has an extensive background in institutional accreditation requirements, including those for administrative, clinical, and transdisciplinary competencies. She has served on curriculum development committees at the corporate level for paramedical, allied health, and computer courses, and has been called upon to review various textbook proposals for their accuracy and viability within the allied health market, including being a member of the Editorial Review Board for the eighth edition of Kinn's The Medical Assistant. Ms. Young has developed institutional improvement plans and OSHA Exposure Control Plans, and has a strong background in compliance and accreditation issues. An exceptional manager and communicator, Ms. Young is a sought after trainer and instructor, and is a proven performer in the classroom, where she enjoys sharing her years of experience with students in allied health programs. She earned her RMA credential in 1981, and her CMA credential in 1993. Ms. Young was graduated from Northwood University with a BBA in 2002, and is currently a graduate student at the University of North Texas. She was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa and graduated Magna Cum Laude when obtaining her bachelor of business administration from Northwood University. She has attended the North American Enrollment Management Institute for three years, and has developed a Study Skills Curriculum for adult learners, as well as a Life Skills program for proprietary school students. Ms. Young volunteers in various capacities within the allied health field; has worked as an office manager for several physicians; has over fifteen years of instructional experience; and is a part-time George Mason University, OCPE, Gatlin instructor.

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1. How do I register for a Gatlin online course?

Please contact our office on the Fairfax campus in Northern Virginia (NOVA) or call 703-993-2113. Click here for more information or to download a copy of the registration form.

2. How much do Gatlin online courses cost?

To view the prices for all Gatlin courses that are offered by George Mason University, please click here.

3. Why do I have to take Gatlin courses through a participating school?

Gatlin does not offer courses directly to the public. They partner with major colleges and universities to offer their programs.

4. Do I have to travel to register for or to attend a Gatlin online course?

All Gatlin courses are delivered entirely online, you do not have to go to a class or travel to a school. If you are unable to visit our office on the Fairfax campus in Northern Virginia (NOVA), please contact us at 703-993-2113 or click here for more information or to register for a course.

5. How long does it take to complete a Gatlin course?

All of our Gatlin courses are asynchronous. You can start and finish the course at your own pace. Most courses are designed to be completed within 180 days. You may request an extension if you think you will need more time to complete a course (fees may apply). Please contact us at 703-993-2113 or click here if you have any questions or if you would like to register for a course.

6. Do I have to buy additional materials?

Please refer to the green Included Materials box located on the upper right hand side of this page. If materials are included in this course, they will be shipped by Gatlin to you via UPS ground service after you have registered for a course.

7. Can I get financial aid for Gatlin courses?

Gatlin courses are non-credit and therefore are not eligible for Federal Student Aid. However there are a number of loan programs that can be used to fund your course. Click here to view a list of these options or call 703-993-2113 for more information. Gatlin also provides a loan opportunity for students (www.collegeloanapplication.com).

8. What happens when I complete the course?

If you obtain a final passing grade of 70% or greater in a course, we will award you a George Mason University certificate of completion.

9. Who will be my instructor?

Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (by e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. Facilitators are all successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

10. What are the system requirements in order to take an online course?

Please see the "PC requirements" section listed for individual courses.

11. When can I start the course?

Registrations are rolling. Please send us your registration form at the time you wish to start your course. Registrations take five to seven business days to process.

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