Orthodontic practices, like many other businesses, are either high volume or low volume. For some, high volume and low profit margin produces market share, but it doesn t feel good especially without profit. Over time, satisfaction and fulfillment often wanes, even when there is profit. For others, low volume and high profit margins produce great feelings, but perhaps less final profit which offsets the great feelings . High volume counts on efficiency, whereas low volume counts on effectiveness .
Efficiency is valuable but far more concrete and tangible.
Cookbooks and manuals make sense. Methods of measuring, calculating, and tracking serve every practice. They should not be totally ignored. Effectiveness is the widely ignored part of health professionals background. The behavior dynamics of change are complex and intervention strategies are not fool proof .