Challenge:
Specialized Dental Partners is a specialty DSO headquartered in Franklin, TN that focuses on endodontic, periodontic, and OMS care. With over 200 locations across 35 states, they are a key example of specialist dentistry at scale.
Due to the intermittent nature of specialist procedures that their practices offered, there was limited in-office patient follow up. This meant that chasing down the patient portion for many balances was a compounding challenge.
Moreover, with so many newly integrated practices, Specialized Dental Partners (SDP) inherited several process issues when it came to collecting patient-portion A/R.
Due to lacking collection processes from new partner doctors, the SDP RCM team sought a software solution to address A/R outreach consistency, collections rates, and their patient billing experience.
Solution:
Because SDP’s practices used 12 diverse PMS systems, many RCM software solutions were inadequate. The lack of bandwidth from partner offices also necessitated elements of automation for their solution.
With Pearly’s dynamic workflows and omni-channel billing outreach, patients with outstanding balances could be automatically and regularly notified via SMS, email, and paper statements with frictionless methods to pay.
Through embracing RCM automation, SDP reports that offices are saving up to 40 hours per week and are collecting 3-4x the amount of payments prior to using Pearly.
Impact:
Starting with a single location group practice, SDP leveraged Pearly’s smart workflows to collect over $300k. From here and with the help of Pearly’s support team, SDP scaled their onboarding with Pearly to nearly 100 locations in just a few months.
Once ramped with Pearly, SDP collected over $1,100,000 in a 90-day period, representing a 32% overall patient-portion A/R reduction from its practice accounts.
The positive impact on their RCM process and resulting bottom line has been substantial to SDP, who now plans to roll Pearly out to all 200+ locations before the end of 2024.
With A/R management managed, SDP now can focus on the “service” side of being a dental service organization, providing support and guidance to new specialty dental practices across the country.
