Checking your practice's vital signs: the importance of operational assessments.

Every medical practice has essential functions that are critical to thriving in a competitive and challenging environment. Just as you check your patients' vital signs when they present for an encounter, your practice requires ongoing assessment of its performance. Do you know your practice's pulse rate? This article provides a systematic process for how to complete a full operational assessment of your practice's vital functions. Discussions include why assessments are important, what data to gather, who to involve, when and why to use an outside party, and what to do with the results.