This article explains the key collections and accounts receivable metrics available in the Denticon Practice Analytics (DPA) Collections Analysis dashboard.
Gross Collections vs. Net Collections
- Gross Collections: The total amount collected from patients and insurance before any adjustments.
- Net Collections: Gross Collections plus (or minus) any Collection Adjustments.
- Formula: Net Collections = Gross Collections + Collection Adjustments
Collections as a % of Production
This metric measures how efficiently your office collects on what it produces.
- Formula: (Net Collections ÷ Net Production) × 100
- Target: 95%
- Above 95% = Green (on track)
- 85–95% = Yellow (needs attention)
- Below 85% = Red (critical)
% OTC (Over-The-Counter) Collections
OTC Collections measures the percentage of patient copay amounts collected at the time of the visit.
- Example: If a patient owed $200 and paid $180 at the time of service, the OTC% is 90%.
- This metric specifically tracks patient payments made on the same date as the estimated patient amount.
Average Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)
DSO estimates how many days it will take to collect all outstanding accounts receivable at the current collection rate.
- Formula: Outstanding A/R ÷ (Net Collections ÷ Business Days in Date Range)
- Business Days are weekdays (Monday–Friday) within the selected date range.
- A lower DSO is better — it means collections are happening faster.
A/R Aging Buckets
The A/R Aging report categorizes outstanding balances by how long they have been outstanding.
- Current (0 days): N/A (no color code)
- 1–60 days: Green
- 61–90 days: Yellow
- 91–120+ days: Red
Note: A value of $0 in any aging bucket is displayed as N/A — this is intentional and indicates no outstanding balance in that period, not an error.
Outstanding A/R vs. Outstanding Claims
- Outstanding A/R: All money not yet collected, including both patient and insurance portions.
- Outstanding Claims: Insurance claims that have been submitted but not yet paid or closed. The Claims dashboard focuses on claim aging, claim type (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary), and the top insurance carriers with outstanding balances.
% Patient/Gross Collections
This metric shows what percentage of total gross collections came from patient payments, as opposed to insurance payments.
- Formula: Patient Payment Amount ÷ Gross Collections
- A higher percentage means more revenue comes directly from patients; a lower percentage means more comes from insurance.
- Available in both the Collections Analysis and Provider Collections reports.