Research Reports from the Department of Operations

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

3-1-1976

Abstract

This paper describes a methodology to forecast the patient load in a dental practice. Three different situations are treated individually: Forecasting in a new practice, forecasting in an established practice, and forecasting during merger. The paper presents both the mathematical models used in forecasting and a set of forms (similar in format to the Internal Revenue Service 1040 forms) which can be used to systematically compute the forecast value. Scheduling of patients and operatories [4,12] and economic analysis of a dental practice [6] require a dependable forecast of the patient load. This paper is intended to help the dentist make such forecasts without having to go through complicated algebra or simply guessing.

Keywords

Operations research, Dental offices--Management, Medical appointments and schedules, Forecasting--Mathematical models, Dental economics, Health services administration, Business mathematics

Publication Title

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

Issue

Technical memorandum no. 334

Rights

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

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