Understanding the Difference Between Treatment Acceptance KPI and Patient Acceptance KPI

Why is My Treatment Acceptance KPI Lower Than My Patient Acceptance KPI?

The Patient Acceptance KPI reflects the percentage of patients who schedule any part of their treatment plan, regardless of the total cost or complexity of the plan. In contrast, the Treatment Acceptance KPI measures the percentage of the total dollar value of a treatment plan that has been scheduled. This difference in calculation often results in a lower Treatment Acceptance KPI compared to the Patient Acceptance KPI.

Factors Affecting Treatment Acceptance

1. Complex Treatment Plans: In cases where treatment is complex or needs to be completed in phases, such as with implant cases, not all procedures are scheduled at once. For instance, the restorative phase of an implant treatment may be scheduled months after the surgical phase, leading to an incomplete treatment plan at the outset. This can cause the Treatment Acceptance KPI to appear lower, as 100% acceptance is rarely achieved in such scenarios.

2. Scheduling Over Time: When additional appointments are scheduled later for a treatment plan created in a previous month, the Treatment Acceptance KPI for that month in which the plan was created will increase. However, this will not impact the acceptance rate for the month when the appointment was actually made. This rule also applies to the Patient Acceptance KPI if no treatment was initially scheduled from the plan.

Are Hygiene/Perio Maintenance Appointments Included in These KPIs?

No, Practice IQ is configured to exclude exams, X-rays, prophies, perio maintenance codes, fluoride treatments, and similar services from the Acceptance KPIs. Sealants, however, are included in the treatment category. Any unique codes for consults, deliveries, etc., can be added to the excluded codes list under the Settings - Service Code Sets page.

How Do Multiple Treatment Choices or Alternatives Affect Acceptance Rates?

The impact of multiple treatment plans on acceptance rates depends on the practice management software being used—whether it's Dentrix, Eaglesoft, or Open Dental. Each system handles multiple plans differently, and understanding these nuances requires a deeper dive. A support session with Practice by Numbers is recommended to get detailed information on the workflows specific to your software.

For more clarity on how your KPIs are calculated and to optimize your practice's tracking, you can contact the Practice by Numbers support team for personalized assistance.