Are gaps in your schedule really a case acceptance problem, or are you simply not diagnosing enough of the care your patients need and want? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt and Metric Mondays co-host Miranda Beeson explain diagnostic percentage, why it is an important leading indicator for future production, and how inconsistent exams, assumptions about patients, and excessive “watching” can limit both care and opportunity.
You’ll learn how to evaluate diagnostic percentage by provider, create greater consistency in your comprehensive exams, and identify opportunities to better serve existing patients without turning treatment conversations into a sales process. To improve your diagnostic consistency and help more patients understand their options, listen to Episode 1087 of The Best Practices Show!
Main Takeaways:
- Diagnostic percentage measures the percentage of patients receiving an exam who are diagnosed or treatment planned with new treatment in the practice management software.
- A low diagnostic percentage can indicate inconsistent exams, incomplete documentation, communication challenges, or assumptions about what patients will accept.
- Practices should diagnose consistently and allow patients to decide whether and when they want to proceed with treatment.
- A strong clinical philosophy and standardized examination process help patients receive consistent information regardless of which provider they see.
- Reviewing diagnostic percentage by provider can reveal variations that should be explored rather than immediately judged as right or wrong.
- Miranda identifies 45% or higher as a useful benchmark while noting that percentages in the teens, 20s, or low 30s may indicate missed opportunities.
- Comprehensive exams for existing patients and regular review of conditions being “watched” can uncover changes in patient needs, wants, and appropriate treatment.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Metric Monday and diagnostic percentage.
02:53 Diagnostic percentage as a measure of consistent patient care.
05:51 Avoiding assumptions about a patient’s willingness or ability to pursue treatment.
07:00 Common causes of low diagnostic percentage.
10:18 How consistent standards support stronger diagnosis.
12:00 Helping patients plan proactively for future dentistry.
14:56 Reviewing diagnostic percentage by provider and using benchmarks.
17:21 Re-evaluating existing patients with comprehensive exams.
19:00 Using improved skills and technology to better evaluate patients over time.
20:00 Untapped treatment opportunities within the existing practice.
21:00 Closing thoughts.
Guest Bio:
Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.
Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.
Episode Resources:
The Wallet Biopsy: https://www.actdental.com/blog/the-procedure-to-always-avoid-wallet-biopsy
More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:
