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October is National Chiropractic Month. Mark this Event with a PATIENT APPRECIATION DAY to Benefit Chiropractic Research through FCER Hundreds of DCs hold Patient Appreciation Days in their office as a fun event to draw in net patients, reactivate former patients, and raise funds for FCER's ongoing chiropractic research and education programs at the same time. Patient Appreciation Day (PAD) is a program of The Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER). What impact can you have with a Patient Appreciation Day? Dr. Daryl D. Wills, Past President of the American Chiropractic Association, suggests, "If 1000 doctors of chiropractic would hold annual Patient Appreciation Days with a $15 - 20 minimum patient donation to FCER, we could raise somewhere between $1.5 million and $2 million a year."1 FCER’s PAD Program is a way for doctors to strengthen their relationships with current patients, attract new patients, create community awareness, and raise funds for critically needed chiropractic research. Read on for more information. "Cause-Related Marketing" Holding an event that benefits a charity in the for-profit world is called Cause-Related Marketing. This is a proven effective way to generate goodwill in your community, and help raise much needed funds for your favorite charitable organization. And of course, FCER wants to be your "favorite" charity. Many doctors have successful Patient Appreciation Days throughout the year or on special events such as Spinal Health Month in October, Fibromyalgia Month in May, Valentine's Day, or your office anniversary. With planning, a Patient Appreciation Day can be a great tie-in to local events. THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT! Be sure to plan in advance to allow for promotional mailings and to meet deadlines for publicity in your local newspapers and radio stations. The services you will provide for your patients on Patient Appreciation Day will be either a treatment for former patients or an examination for new patients. In return for this service, patients will make a contribution to FCER—you determine the minimum donation amount. Remember that worker’s compensation and insurance payments cannot be processed for patients who participate in your Patient Appreciation Day. Why Hold a Patient Appreciation Day to Benefit FCER? Today there is a critical need in the profession for research that will establish the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of chiropractic. The survival of chiropractic in the health care system of the 21st century depends upon it. FCER has over 50 years of experience in funding solid scientific research projects. With FCER’s Patient Appreciation Day Program you can:
How to Get Started with Your Patient Appreciation Day There are five steps to holding a Patient Appreciation Day at your clinic:
In your PAD Kit we provide the following material to help establish and promote your Patient Appreciation Day:
Questions? If you still have questions about your Patient Appreciation Day before or after reviewing your Kit, please call FCER toll-free at 800-622-6309, or e-mail us at FCER@fcer.org. Thank You for Participating in FCER's Patient Appreciation Day Program! 1Remember, if you hold a Patient Appreciation Day to benefit FCER, by law the funds must be forwarded to FCER. Since 1944, the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER) has endeavored to fund and support scientifically sound research to evaluate chiropractic health care. In order to protect the integrity of the research that it funds, FCER maintains a 501(c)(3) status as an independent research foundation, dedicated to education and research. |
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