Practice management
Benchmark
A benchmark is a reference figure, often drawn from similar practices or organizations, that an owner uses to judge whether the practice's own results are high, low or typical.
AHRQ describes benchmarking as a process of evaluating metrics or methods from other organizations and then applying them to your own. In dentistry the reference might be an industry average or a figure from similar practices. A benchmark helps only when the comparison is fair. Practices differ in size, payer mix, location and services, and report definitions vary. Owners should check how a source defines each number, such as overhead percentage or net production, and what years and practices it covers. A benchmark is a starting point for questions, not a target the practice must hit.