This is not a comprehensive list, but it surely provides some insight and foundation on what candidates are expecting. Also, some of these questions go beyond a typical associate arrangement and describe things related to partnership/ownership transition. Remember, candidates are interviewing you as much as you are interview them.
First things first
- Why is your practice opportunity better, more desirable, and lucrative than another opportunity down the street?
Relationship
- Employee or Independent Contractor
- Employee at will?
- Is the doctor open to restrictive covenant in case of future ownership?
- Is the owner doctor going to stay on PT for some time or can he if needed (After purchase)?
Schedule
- Days, hours, on call, etc
- Office hours and days per week is the office open?
- What is the new associate's schedule expected to be?
Type of Practice
- How is the practice set up (family, Pedo, or dentures)? Pedo: what age?
- Age of the practice?
- When/what do you refer out?
- Place or Restore Implant? Which system?
- # of operatories
- # of Hygienists. How many days/hours of hygiene
- # assistants
- Will the associate have their own assistant?
- How much is the practice overhead?
- How long has each employee been there?
- What does the practice do to market itself?
- How many FT and PT staff?
Patients
- What is the patient pool like?
- Have the number of active patient records been reviewed?
- Is the practice growing or declining in number of patients seen, new patients attracted, and young patients?
- Average number of cancellations per week?
- Average number of patients seen by associate per day?
- How far ahead is the doctor book filled?
- How far ahead is the associate book filled?
- How far ahead is the hygienist’s book filled?
Duties
- Job description or general description
- Is the associate expected to check hygiene of other doctor’s patients?? If yes, will the associate be compensated for it?
- Will the associate be expected to perform hygiene/prophy?
- Does the doctor do any procedures other than regular general dentistry?
- What were the most of the cases being done by the associate?
Facilities
- Supplies, equipment, support. Etc
- What type of PMS (Software) is used?
- Implant surgical set up? Who finances to get that set up if NOT already have?
- What is the square footage of the office? Can it be expanded?
- Average age of equipment?
- Is the practice left handed, right handed, or ambidextrous?
Fees for service
- Appropriate/assign billing?
- Discounts/Bartering/payment plans
- PPO type of insurance?
- Insurances: accept all kinds or just selected ones?
- How much is the discounted price of the PPO compared to the fee schedule?
- Medicare or Medicaid acceptance?
- How much of the practice relies upon capitation programs, PPOs, HMOs, Medicare or Medicaid?
- What percent is FFS, cash and discounted PPO?
- When was the last fee increase?
- Are the fees low, High or average for the immediate area?
- Do you offer patients credit?
Term of contract
- How long?
Compensation
- Salary, Hourly, Draw, Minimum, Commission, Percentage, Bonus, When, How,
- Taxes withheld?
- What percent of production or collection will be the compensation?
- How will the associate be paid? (Weekly/bi-weekly/monthly)
- How much on average was the associate making?
Collection/Production
- What is the % of collection for the practice
- What was the average associate production per day?
- Does the associate production include hygiene exams and x-rays?
- Can I get a fee schedule of the practice?
Benefits
- Medical Insurance: health and dental?
- Malpractice insurance?
- Disabilities insurance?
- Required CE courses? How much and for how many hours a year? Are they paid for/reimbursed,? Is there a stipend?
- Retirement?
- Sick days…….. # allow per yr…..
- Personal days/vacations…..# per yr allow……
- Holidays?
- What benefits are given to the staff?
Expenses
- Define, list, when paid, lab, etc…..
- What Lab do you use? Use different lab for different lab orders??
- Is the associate responsible for my own lab fees and expenses?
- Will the practice support the acquisition loan (in case of future ownership), pay the overhead expenses and afford a reasonable income?
Other Questions and Notes:
- What is your practice Philosophy and Goals? For the Practice and with new pt’s tx?
- % of implant surgeries
- Have you had associate before? How many? How long they stayed? What was the reason for the associate resignation?
- Do you have a confirmation system for apts?
- How do you deal with NO Show?
- Digital X-ray?
- Intraoral Digital Camera?
- How do you advertise?
- Will most dental insurance dictate pt’s Tx plan??
- Do you deal a lot with EMERGENCY pt? Separate operatories for that?
- Average number of emergencies per week?
- Will I be doing hygiene/prophy when I don’t have pt?
- Who determine how long I have when spending with new pt/initial exam and record?
- Do I have an apt separate to do comprehensive exams and record…. Or do I do the TP when pt come in for cleaning?
- How long does a hygienist spend on their recalls?
- Is there a particular doctor in the area who is your main competitor?
- Who sees the patient first (Doctor, hygienist, associate)
- Why was the partnership offer turned down by an associate?
- Will I be able to visit the office during regular working hours?
- Does the doctor have a report showing how much treatment is treatment planned?
