The Practicon Viewpoint by Ann Page Griffin

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QUESTION: HOW EFFECTIVE IS YOUR RECARE SYSTEM?
ANSWER: I HAVE NO IDEA. HOW DO I CALCULATE EFFECTIVENESS?

Surely you've heard the adage: The recare system is the lifeblood of a dental practice. That is certainly true for general and pediatric practices. Yet many practitioners cannot answer the question: How effective is your recare system?

Let's begin with the answer: practice management experts recommend an effectiveness rate (the percentage of active patients enrolled in the recare system who return regularly for hygiene care) of 75% to 80%. In a general practice, an "active patient" is typically defined as one who has been seen within the past 24 months (not including single-visit emergencies, who usually never return), or, in a pediatric practice, one who has been seen in the past 18 months (pediatric offices would also apply an age limit, say under 18 years old).

To determine the average number of recare appointments made and kept each month, count the number of hygiene appointments seen in the last year and divide by twelve.

Consider the following examples:

Current recare system:

• 3,500 active patients / 6 months = 583 recare appointments per month (for 100% effectiveness)
• Actual average recare appointments = 352 per month
• 352 / 583 = 60% effective recare system

If the goal is 80% effectiveness:

• 3,500 active patients x 80% (0.80) = a goal of 2,800 patients returning regularly
• 2,800 patients / 6 months = 467 recare appointments per month

If the goal is 75% effectiveness:

• 3,500 active patients x 75% (0.75) = 2,625 patients returning regularly
• 2,625 active patients / 6 months = 438 recare appointments per month

Make this calculation using your own numbers for the past year. You might be surprised at the additional number of recares needed to reach a goal of 75% or 80% effectiveness. As you move toward meeting this goal, consider the following:

• Regular hygiene care can significantly improve patients' oral and overall health. Problems can be diagnosed early, and prompt treatment can eliminate the need for more involved care. Emphasis on home care instructions helps prevent future dental disease—a win-win for the patient and for you.


• Production in the hygiene department will grow dramatically. In the example above for an 80% effective system, an additional 115 recare appointments could be scheduled. Multiplying 115 additional hygiene appointments by your typical (average) recare fee results in a 32% increase in hygiene production (Wow)! And this doesn't even include additional restorative care that will increase your production even more.


• Are facilities and staff adequate to handle the increase? Will you need an additional hygienist? Another hygiene chair? Another treatment chair? Can your office, parking lot, reception area, and staff handle the increased patient flow?

Suggestion: perform the calculation using your own practice numbers. Weigh the improvements in patient care and the projected increase in production against any costs that will be incurred to support the increase in recare effectiveness. As you consider the factors involved, I am certain you will find that hitting the 75% to 80% goal for your recare system will pay big dividends for both your patients and for your practice.

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