The Importance of Chart Audits Before Purchasing a Practice

Making the decision to purchase an existing dental practice is perhaps the most important decision you’ll make as a professional dentist. It’s of the utmost importance that you’ve thoroughly researched and analyzed this decision before making it official. Part of this research includes a chart audit, which can provide you with information regarding the success and viability of the practice you’re considering purchasing.

Conducting Chart Audits – How & Why

The first part of your chart audit should including finding the number of dental patients who are expected to return for preventative care and for treatment of a dental problem. The higher the number of established and long-term patients, the better your odds of success. Once this has been completed, pick a sample of 100-150 dental charts to get a good idea of how many patients from the office haven’t been seen in over a year. These numbers should give you a fairly accurate representation of the dental practice.

Next, focus your audit on the amount of future treatment the current owner has scheduled (which you’ll be the one to perform). If most of the established patients at the dental practice have already completed their treatment, and the practice isn’t still averaging 20-30 new patients with future treatment needs, you may have trouble keeping the schedule full. Additionally, take the time to research and consider if you agree with the treatment plans & diagnoses that the current dentist has already made.

Lastly, use the chart audit to take a careful look at the schedule of the practice. As you analyze this information, ask yourself if you’re comfortable keeping up with the pace of the current owner. The schedule will be a good diagnostic tool for discovering the health of the dental practice and how your goals mesh with it.

If you’d like assistance analyzing the chart of a prospective dental practice, or with help purchasing a dental practice, please contact CTC National. We’ve assisted thousands of dental practices all over the country start a dental practice, practice transitions, and much more.