As dental practices grow, many owners face challenges in moving their business forward. While each practice is unique, we usually see one of three common challenges stopping dental practices from being able to achieve their goals on their own, including: A lack of internal expertise to drive operational efficiencies; too much reliance on owner(s) for revenue, and an inability to execute growth strategies or optimize key processes.
If your practice is facing similar roadblocks, it might be time to consider a fractional COO (Chief Operating Officer).
Why is a fractional COO different?
The role of a fractional COO is different from a traditional consultant. While consultants can identify inefficiencies and suggest improvements, a fractional COO takes a hands-on approach to implement necessary changes. For example, in many dental practices, one of the biggest areas of concern is the revenue cycle. From patient check-in to billing and denials, if this process is not standardized, it can lead to a cascade of issues. Practices often find that claims get lost in the shuffle, with errors only being discovered when accounts receivable start to balloon. In this scenario, a fractional COO would step in directly to create better systems, ensure efficiency, and generate immediate improvements in cash flow.
How fractional COOs can improve HR
Human resources is another area where many dental practices struggle. Practices often experience high turnover and recruitment challenges because they aren’t equipped to compete in the job market. This is especially true when wages and benefits are not competitive. Practices might feel that they can’t afford to pay more, but they are already paying for it through the hidden costs of turnover and ongoing recruitment. A fractional COO can help restructure HR practices, ensuring the team is competitive and stable.
Finding the signal in the noise
A major benefit of a fractional COO is the ability to uncover operational inefficiencies quickly. In many cases, owners and leadership teams are too close to the problem or too resistant to change to identify what’s really holding them back. By stepping in as an outsider with authority, a fractional COO can cut through the noise and get to the root of the issue, whether it’s a leadership bottleneck, poor delegation, or lack of process standardization. The COO oversees departments directly, ensuring that improvements are made, rather than just advised.
If your dental practice leadership is unsure whether it can scale effectively, lacks efficiency, or isn’t confident in its profitability, a fractional COO might be the solution. With the right person in place, practices can stop leaving money on the table and start operating at their full potential.
