by Level up with data: Use job KPIs to maximize margins, drive efficiency, and growth
By Laura Bowles, DEO
Amongst high staff turnover, rising overhead costs, decreasing patient flow, decreasing margins, etc. it can “feel” like you’re treading water instead of on your way to reaching that next growth milestone for your dental practice. But feelings are not data.
Data shows you where to course correct, but can also highlight what is going right and areas of opportunity! One of the most powerful data “tools” in the arsenal of any successful dental entrepreneur is KPIs. They allow you to identify inefficiencies, root out bottlenecks, and unlock potential opportunities.
Take, for example, the challenge of maximizing patient retention and satisfaction. With the right KPIs in place, dental leaders can pinpoint areas for improvement, whether it’s enhancing communication protocols, streamlining appointment scheduling, or optimizing treatment workflows.
Or a more specific example: by tracking the hygienist job role KPI of reappointment percentage, you can identify potential gaps in patient education or dissatisfaction with services. A low reappointment rate may indicate a need for improving communication skills about the importance of regular preventive care. This simple finding presents an opportunity for training to level up your hygienists’ communication skills or even using scripts.
These scenarios demonstrate how effective KPIs can be. The challenges they represent may *feel* insurmountable, but with a robust KPI framework in place, they can be addressed. It’s like a cookie trail and the numbers allow you to diagnose what’s going on.
KPIs can inspire and motivate your staff and associates – transforming them from mere employees into active participants in the practice’s success and growth. Transparently communicating performance expectations and recognizing achievements based on measurable results goes a long way toward fostering a culture where every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.
That’s why of all the data you track, job role KPIs are arguably the most important, allowing you to make informed decisions. It’s equally imperative to be consistent with your tracking. Measure, manage, and assess job KPIs on a weekly, quarterly and yearly basis to keep your team accountable, productive, engaged, and invested in their career growth plus the success of your practice. DEO recommends that at the minimum you track KPIs for these job roles: marketing department, front office/call center, insurance coordinator, dental associate, dental hygienist, dental assistant, and office manager.
To help you effectively use KPIs to make informed decisions, DEO created the Dental Leader KPI Dashboard, which tracks 28 recommended KPIs spread out over the seven positions. Get your complimentary Dashboard here to tap into the power of KPIs!
For more, click here to get your free copy of the Dental Leader KPI Dashboard.
