The Difference Between a Busy Practice and a Productive One

The definition of a busy dental practice will mean different things to different people. For some dentists, it signals change and excitement and for others it just equals stress. Few are able to see being busy as a balance between a successful practice and a well-managed team.

Too often, “busy” means having a full and consistent schedule, but production lags and profits don’t measure up. You may be at a loss as to why, since a full schedule usually means you’re running a successful practice. However, in the dental profession, busy doesn’t always equal productive.

Some signs to keep an eye out for will include:

1. A lack of consistency in the time scheduled for procedures
2. Your hygiene schedule is booked out for months
3. The doctor is booked more than three weeks out, causing patients have to wait several weeks, even for routine procedures
4. Your team isn’t getting a full lunch hour; just small breaks here and there
5. You’re having a hard time with patient retention
6. The main focus of the practice is to keep the schedule full

If your practice is exhibiting these signs, there are a few ways to remedy the problem. First, set clear goals, priorities and objectives. You need to get a good idea of the financial demands and desires of your practice.

Second, ask yourself a few crucial questions, such as: What are your monthly bills? How much needs to be set aside to pay your staff and yourself? How many hours do you want to be working? How much vacation time needs to be allotted? The answers to these questions will all play an important role in setting financial goals for your practice.

Next, set production objectives. You need to make sure that the scheduling coordinator is making appointments that will meet production goal instead of scheduling just to remain busy. The best way to do this is to make scheduling goals based on your overhead expenses.

It’s possible to greatly increase the productivity of your dental practice! For help setting goals and determining objectives, please contact CTC National to speak with a skilled dental consultant.