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Understanding the PiQ Assistant
Understanding the PiQ Assistant
Alyssa Elso avatar
Written by Alyssa Elso
Updated over 2 weeks ago

The PiQ Assistant in Practice by Numbers (PbN) is a powerful AI-driven tool designed to help dental practices streamline their workflow and gain insights quickly. By using one of four key intents—KPI, trends, graph, and lists—users can access a range of data, from high-level performance metrics to detailed patient information. Below, we’ll explore these intents and how to use them effectively.


Using the PiQ Assistant

The PiQ Assistant is a powerful tool designed to help you access key data and insights quickly and efficiently. Whether you’re looking for production metrics, patient lists, or trend analyses, the PiQ Assistant is built to respond to your needs with precision. This article will walk you through the four main types of requests you can make, complete with examples and visual aids to help you maximize the value of the PiQ Assistant.

1. KPI Requests

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) provide a clear snapshot of your practice's performance, giving you insights that guide decision-making and strategy. With the PiQ Assistant, you can ask for KPIs across a variety of metrics, such as production, collections, patient appointments, and more. Here's how you can use it:

  • Example Questions:

    • "What is the production KPI for this month?"

    • "Show me the collections KPI for last quarter."

    • "How many hygiene appointments were completed this week?"

When you request specific KPIs, the PiQ Assistant quickly retrieves the most relevant data, providing a clear visualization of the metric you've asked for. For instance, you can ask to compare hygiene and doctor production for the last month, and the assistant will show you the gross production values for the period, along with percentage changes.

Example Response:

  • Hygiene Production (Gross): $45,204.52 (↓22.3% compared to previous month)

  • Doctor Production (Gross): $80,963.24 (↓29.8% compared to previous month)

These metrics give you an overview of how each department or provider is performing, allowing you to make data-driven decisions. KPIs like these help you monitor your practice’s goals and performance in real-time.

2. Trend Analysis

Understanding performance trends over time is crucial for making informed decisions. The PiQ Assistant excels at providing trend data that allows you to track changes over time and adjust your strategies accordingly.

  • Example Questions:

    • "Show me the trend of new patients, collections, and production for 2023."

    • "What is the trend for hygiene reappointment rates over the past six months?"

    • "Display the trend of treatment acceptance rates for the last year."

With these requests, the PiQ Assistant will display trends across the requested metrics, giving you visual data and detailed reports. For example, if you ask it to display monthly production amounts from new patients for both 2023 and 2024, it will show you a breakdown of the production data along with percentage changes.

Example Response:

In this scenario, the assistant will generate a table displaying production trends year-over-year. For instance:

  • January 2024: 8.7% increase compared to January 2023

  • August 2024: 180.6% increase compared to August 2023

These insights are incredibly valuable for identifying when production is increasing, decreasing, or plateauing, and they allow you to adjust your operational strategies accordingly. Trend analysis helps you spot areas for improvement and capitalize on growing opportunities.

3. Graph Requests

Sometimes, visualizing data through graphs helps clarify complex information more effectively. The PiQ Assistant can generate a variety of graphs, allowing you to quickly interpret how different metrics interact and change over time.

  • Example Questions:

    • "Graph the collections vs. production for the year 2023."

    • "Show me a line chart of new patients over the past 12 months."

    • "Display a bar graph of appointments by provider for September 2023."

By generating visual representations of data, the PiQ Assistant makes it easier to see relationships between different metrics. For example, a line chart showing the trend of new patients over the last year could help you understand how your marketing efforts or seasonal factors have affected patient flow. Similarly, bar graphs can help you break down appointment data by provider, giving you a clearer picture of individual provider performance.

For example, here is a Trend Analysis of Active Patients Over Two Years:

This data offers actionable insights, helping you understand patterns and track changes at a glance.

4. Lists of Patients

When your team needs specific patient lists for follow-ups, marketing, or billing, the PiQ Assistant can quickly generate detailed lists based on criteria you define. Whether it’s for upcoming appointments, outstanding balances, or specific patient demographics, you’ll be able to get the information you need with ease.

  • Example Questions:

    • "List the last 20 patients seen in February 2023."

    • "Show me patients with outstanding balances."

    • "Get a list of patients due for their six-month hygiene appointment."

Once you make a request, the PiQ Assistant will generate a list of patients that meet your criteria. These lists are particularly useful for outreach efforts, follow-up reminders, or billing management. You can quickly identify patients who need attention and ensure that no one is missed.

For instance, here is a List of Patients Who Completed Crowns (D2740) in October 2024:

These patient lists enable your billing team to reach out efficiently, improving your collection process. Similarly, a list of patients due for their hygiene appointments helps with patient retention and proactive care scheduling.


Getting Started with PiQ Assistant

To utilize the PiQ Assistant effectively, follow these simple steps:

  1. Access the Assistant: Navigate to the PiQ Assistant in Practice by Numbers.

  2. Ask Your Question: Type in your question or command using one of the four intents.

  3. Review Results: The PiQ Assistant will provide the requested information in seconds, allowing you to take action or share insights with your team.

The PiQ Assistant is designed to simplify accessing vital data, giving you more time to focus on patient care and practice growth.

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