Eric Pastan on the Data Secrets Behind Operational Excellence

Generally, the definition of success may vary, but in the world of dentistry, patient care, profitability and operational excellence are measures of success that every business is trying to achieve. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker welcomes Eric Pastan, Director, Skytale Group, and a former DSO owner, who scaled his business to 45 locations. Together, they take from Pastan’s wealth of experience to explore the critical elements of successful dental organization growth. From insights on maintaining clinical excellence while scaling operations to the importance of data analysis done right, and how to prepare your organization for eventual transactions, this episode highlights the keys to dental success, in today’s day and age. Tune in to discover how, sometimes, the best path to growth starts with sitting at the front desk!

The parameters of success in dentistry are fairly straightforward - high standards of patient care, operational excellence and profitability. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, Mike Huffaker welcomes Eric Pastan, Director, Skytale Group to unpack the strategic ways dental businesses can successfully scale, without compromising on operational excellence and patient care. Together, they explore:

The importance of knowing a business from the inside out, starting from the front desk
How a clear understanding of practice financials and P&L statements can drive sustainable growth
The potential of technology and implementing the right systems and technology
How maintaining focus on clinical outcomes while building efficient business operations leads to long-term success

Tune in for the secrets behind scalability, using data to create value and building a robust dental empire.

Episode Highlights:

02:37 - 11:11 Learning the Business from the Ground Up

Eric shares his journey into dentistry - the opportunities and challenges in scaling his own business from 1 to 45. He highlights the importance of knowing one’s business from the inside out, emphasizing the importance of engaging with every aspect of day-to-day operations in order to build and scale an organization.

11:12 - 18:18 Prioritizing Clinical Excellence as the Core Business Driver

Eric stresses that exceptional clinical outcomes must be the driving principle of any successful dental organization, underscoring the importance of all business operations and systems, ultimately supporting and enhancing the ability to deliver quality patient care. Doing so naturally drives better patient acceptance, revenue growth, and long-term success.

18:20 - 31:36 Data-Driven Decision Making Without Analysis Paralysis

Eric advocates for leveraging data while keeping metrics and tracking systems simple and actionable. Starting with clean, reliable data inputs allows businesses to provide teams clear visibility into performance while avoiding information overload that paralyzes decision-making.

31:37 - 36:46 Building Value Through Integration and Scalability

Eric reflects on the integration vs. expansion approach, highlighting that a focus on the former enables greater success for DSOs. He further shines a light on what buyers are looking for - whether systems, processes, and management structures can scale efficiently to support continued growth. The key is having standardized yet flexible approaches that can be replicated across locations while maintaining quality and profitability.

Discover the strategies to scale your dental practice, maximize profitability, and stay ahead in the industry. Listen now and take your business to the next level!