Research Reports from the Department of Operations

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

2-1-1974

Abstract

This paper describes one aspect of a general methodology for the management of a dental practice; in general and in particular, of one involving Expanded Duty Dental Auxiliaries. The aspect of concern in this paper centers on the economic analysis of practice management. Thus, the paper presents both an algebraic statement of the economic analysis and a set of forms (similar in format to the International Revenue Service 1040 forms) which can be used to respond to the following questions: (1) Given a patient load and mix, a practice configuration (i.e., the number of operatories and of workers of each type), and a methodology for scheduling patients, what is the practice's ability to generate surplus income? (2) Given the patient load and mix and the desired practice income level, what is the most economic practice configuration? (3) Given patient load and mix and patient scheduling procedure, as well as practice configuration and desired practice earnings level, what is the feasible range of compensation to each of a number of worker categories? Although the paper does not consider the scheduling of patients and workers to operatories, it is a prerequisite to a rational methodology for doing same. Such methodologies are reported elsewhere [4]. Moreover, the paper does not concern itself with forecasting patient load in new, emerging or expanding practices. A methodology for doing this is reported in [6].

Keywords

Operations research, Dental offices--Management, Dental economics, Dental personnel, Dental auxiliary personnel

Publication Title

Technical Memorandums from the Department of Operations, School of Management, Case Western Reserve University

Issue

Technical memorandum no. 328

Rights

This work is in the public domain and may be freely downloaded for personal or academic use

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