Clear Median
Methodology

How we build a traceable operational diagnostic

Every report follows the same five-stage process. The inputs are transparent, the assumptions are cited, and the math is reproducible. If you disagree with an input, we'll re-run the model on yours — that's the point of a diagnostic, not a deck.

  1. 01

    Structured intake

    20–40 minutes of structured questions covering panel size, payer mix, visit volume, current services, staffing, and equipment. No PHI required. The intake is identical for every customer in a given report category, so outputs are comparable.

  2. 02

    Public-data qualification

    Before sale, the practice's public Medicare record is compared with specialty and state context. The paid audit is offered only when this screen identifies at least three credible opportunities to investigate.

  3. 03

    Conservative modeling

    Revenue projections use floor reimbursement (Medicare baseline × your reported commercial multiplier). Ramp curves assume 60% utilization months 1–3 and 85% by month 6. We will never model a best-case scenario as the headline number.

  4. 04

    Founder review

    Every draft is read and signed off by founder Jack Gierlich before it leaves the building. He stress-tests the math against the intake, flags anything that leans on a vendor narrative, and rejects findings that can't survive a conservative-case scenario. Reports that fail review are rebuilt, not patched.

  5. 05

    Delivery + assumptions log

    You receive the PDF plus a one-page assumptions log: every number, where it came from, what would have to change to change the conclusion. If you push back on an assumption with your own data, we re-run within 48 hours.

Data sources we cite

What we don't do

  • • We don't accept paid placement from vendors, EHRs, or service-line equipment manufacturers.
  • • We don't model best-case scenarios as headline numbers.
  • • We don't recommend services that require credentials or capital your intake says you don't have.
  • • We don't sell the audit unless public data shows at least three credible opportunities. If the delivered audit documents less than five times the fee in quantified opportunity, the guarantee applies.

Known limits

Diagnostics are not implementations. We can size an opportunity, rank it against peers, and tell you what would have to be true for the math to hold — but the result depends on your execution. We're explicit about that in every report and we offer a done-for-you path for owners who'd rather hand off implementation.

Methodology FAQ

Where do your benchmark numbers come from?
Primarily MGMA DataDive, the current CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, and HCUP/AHRQ/CDC public datasets. Every number that appears in a report is footnoted to its source.
Do you collect any patient health information (PHI)?
No. The intake asks for aggregates, percentages, and counts only — never patient-identifiable data. You can complete the entire intake without touching your EHR.
Who reviews each report before delivery?
Every report is signed off by founder Jack Gierlich before it leaves the building. He stress-tests the math, the assumptions, and the ranking against the intake before anything ships.
How do you keep estimates conservative?
Revenue projections use floor reimbursement (Medicare baseline × your reported commercial multiplier) and ramp curves assume 60% utilization in months 1–3, 85% by month 6. We never put a best-case scenario in the headline.
What happens if I disagree with one of your assumptions?
Push back with your own data and we re-run the model within 48 hours at no charge. The assumptions log that ships with every report exists exactly for this purpose.
Do vendors or equipment manufacturers pay for placement in your reports?
No. We don't accept paid placement of any kind. Recommendations are driven by your intake and our benchmark data only.