| It's surprising how many people have asked how | | | | The activities to track are production, collections |
| to get their business statistics on a single page | | | | and accounts receivable, expenses, case tracking |
| each month. They have also asked how to turn | | | | for new and existing patients and patient |
| the information into charts and graphs for use | | | | retention. There is a standard process or system |
| during meetings. Software today makes this | | | | you have in place to produce a specific result in |
| easy; anybody can do these things with word | | | | each area. That is what you are measuring here, |
| document and/or a spreadsheet program. | | | | the effectiveness of a system, not individual |
| Therefore, there must be another problem in | | | | performance. Employee performance is measured |
| addition to getting the numbers on one page. | | | | elsewhere although is often reflected in the |
| Is the problem truly a lack of knowledge about | | | | report. |
| word or spreadsheet programs? It is possible, but | | | | The primary purpose of the monthly report is to |
| not likely. Most people are computer literate and | | | | see what systems are producing the desired |
| with built-in software tutorials, learning a new | | | | results and which ones are not. It is a tool to |
| program is quite simple and painless. It can be | | | | identify problems that are hindering growth and |
| done in a few hours. | | | | profits. Problems are defined as less than |
| Could it be that the information is too detailed, | | | | anticipated or expected results. Once you identify |
| redundant and confuses people instead of helps | | | | the problem the particular system can be |
| them? In dentistry, this has become a problem. | | | | modified, refined, or changed to get the numbers |
| Monthly tracking has been taken to the extreme. | | | | you are looking for. |
| It now takes multiple people to do what one | | | | When the results are good, the report serves |
| person used to do in the past. As a result there | | | | another purpose. Remember the objective; to |
| are way too many details, much of it redundant | | | | grow the business. Now it functions as a |
| and subjective, and it manipulates the facts. | | | | motivational tool. Begin looking at the specific |
| That is the crux of the problem; too much | | | | activities and find ways to improve upon them to |
| information and uncertainty with how to use it. | | | | get more and better results. |
| Monthly reports are intended to identify where | | | | Every activity affects another. All the statistics |
| the business stands and what direction it is | | | | should be on one page so you can easily see |
| heading. The bottom line is measuring and | | | | these affects. People have requested charts and |
| monitoring for growth. The dental business can be | | | | graphs. If you use a spreadsheet program, they |
| very effectively managed by tracking the results | | | | can be developed quite simply. |
| of specific activities on a monthly basis. | | | | |