How to Assess Your
Practice Performance
practice management
by Roger P. Levin, DDS
Many doctors want to know how their
practices are doing, but have no idea
where to begin. A proper practice analysis
starts with an in-depth examination of
Key Production Indicators , including:
™
• Number of new patients
• Need-based vs. elective procedures
• Case acceptance rates
• Patient referrals
After examining these numbers, dentists will see
where they need to make changes. The only way to
rectify each issue is to establish performance targets
for the areas that need improvement. For example:
• Scheduling capacity vs. actual
scheduled patients
• Percentage of no-shows and
last-minute cancellations
• Overdue collections
undocumented systems
Many practices have systems that only exist in the
minds of team members. When these individuals
leave the practice, the practice’s unwritten systems
will leave with them. The practice will then have
extraordinary difficulty trying to train new individuals to work with these systems. On the other hand,
documented systems give new team members
defined steps for carrying out their responsibilities,
and staff can be brought up to speed quickly
and effectively.
TARGET: Implement documented,
step-by-step systems within eight
months.
an inefficient schedule
The practice should run the schedule, yet many practices unconsciously allow patients to run it instead.
Patients frequently insist on a certain day and time
and get it — even if it means that other appointments
remain unfilled. Late patients and no-shows also
add to the inefficiency. Practices need to guide
patients toward appointment times that are more
advantageous for the office.
22 NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY | www.northtexasdentistry.com
TARGET: Use effective scripting to
reduce openings by 15% in the
next six months.