ABSTRACT

CCC-14-0006.0 This case takes students into the world of medical management, the challenges of group practice and the growing prevalence of medical management firms. The case looks at the experience of a Virginia dental group, Reston Dental Arts (RDA). In 1998, the member dentists—who had formed a group in the late 1980s—had in hand an offer from American Dental Partners (ADP). The management firm would take over all front office responsibilities, allow the doctors to focus on patients, and compensate them according to an agreed-on formula. In Part A, students are asked: should RDA accept the offer or not? In Part B, they consider some of the subsequent challenges.

The case raises for student discussion problems of medical practice valuation, of partnership and of management. Use it to help future medical practitioners prepare for lives not just as doctors, but as businesspeople. Ask them how they would best value RDA, using any of a number of suggested methods. How important is “culture” to a practice, and should that be part of its value? What about the role of insurance in dental services? Students will also learn about the interpersonal dynamics of a group practice and have an opportunity to consider how those can best be managed.

Use this case in a class/course on dentistry professional practice, medical management, mergers and acquisitions or human resources. It can also be used as a history of dental business in the US, including trends in managed care and insurance.

There are two parts to this case. Students can access Part A online. Part B is visible to faculty only , after sign in, and is coupled with the epilogue. Should you choose to use Part B, please print and distribute in class, or forward the pdf to students in advance of class. You will have to separate Part B from the epilogue.

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