April 2004

Chiropractic on 'Discovery'

A special report submitted by CJ Mertz, The Waiting List Practice

Many years ago, the idea of the chiropractic message being delivered on national television was a pipedream. Now, because of Bill Frank and the "Forever Young" show, millions of people will have the chance to find out about the world's best‑kept health secret ‑‑ chiropractic.

Third‑party credibility makes the message ever more believable to the viewing audience. The "Forever Young" show has always been centered around staying young in mind, body and spirit and now carries the hope of creating a powerful identity for chiropractic in mainstream America.

Up until now, the public has been led to think of chiropractic as pain relief or they know nothing at all. Thanks to the "Forever Young" show, chiropractors are now being viewed as wellness experts.

Mr. Bill Frank experienced his own breakthrough with chiropractic a couple years ago after fracturing a vertebra in his lower back. Thankfully, he met Dr. Renny Edelson of Plantation, Fla., who introduced him to subluxation and chiropractic corrective care. Frank made a promise to himself when his show was accepted on the Discovery channel, one of the largest television networks in America, that he would help bring chiropractic to the public.

Fabrizio Mancini, D.C., was the first leader in chiropractic Frank contacted to receive advice on how to make the "Forever Young" show a smash hit for chiropractors. Soon after, Frank had called upon every major leader in the profession and asked for their counsel and support.

CJ Mertz, D.C., led the way when he saw the possibility of making subluxation a household word through the "Forever Young" shows. Dr. Mertz recalls inviting Frank to do a 15‑minute presentation at his seminar, and more than 100 clients signed up for a "Forever Young" membership on the spot. After careful review, Mertz and the entire board of the ICA, voted unanimously to endorse the "Forever Young" show, which has the potential to reach 84.6 million Discovery subscribers. "He's the real deal," Mertz replied when asked if Bill Frank had what takes to pull off a media campaign of this magnitude.

Patrick Gentempo, D.C., has shown his enthusiastic support by interviewing Frank for the on‑purpose tapes this past December. He also allowed the "Forever Young" film crew to come out and shoot his Total Solutions program, which has already aired on the show. Dr. Gentempo believes the "Forever Young" show is the perfect start for a public relations campaign in chiropractic.

Recently, Terry Rondberg, D.C., was asked to comment on the merit of the "Forever Young" show and he said, "I think national exposure of the true principles and values of chiropractic is long overdue. If guided by good advice concerning show content, a program like 'Forever Young' could make a sizable impact for both chiropractic and chiropractors."

Chiropractic leaders, practice consultants, chiropractic colleges, many vendors and nearly 1,000 field doctors are in full support to insure the success of chiropractic airing every week on the Discovery Channel. The "Forever Young" membership opportunity is bringing chiropractic together with a wide variety of practice styles in unprecedented fashion. Many believe the "Forever Young" show represents a bridge that's making it easier for the first time in a long time, for chiropractors to come together and support a common cause. Hundreds of people are calling in to the "Forever Young" hotline seeking to schedule an appointment with a local wellness expert.

The cost of membership is $1,100 for a full year. Each show has a special toll free number people can call who are referred to the "Forever Young" member in their area. If there is more than one doctor in the area, then those new patient leads are rotated equally which is all monitored by a sophisticated software program. Frank has also purchased 80 million e‑mail addresses, and twice per month sends a message with a chiropractic tip‑of‑the‑week along with an opportunity to call the toll‑free number.

The "Forever Young" membership gives each chiropractor the pride in contributing to the growth and development of chiropractic while personally benefiting from possible new patient referrals locally. At a time when the public hears more negative propaganda about chiropractic, the "Forever Young" show allows millions of people to see us at our best.

This is a once‑in‑a lifetime opportunity for every chiropractor in the United States. Bill Frank's show is also picked up via satellite and televised in Europe, Canada and Australia. Viewers can go to www.billfrank.com and can receive a referral to a "Forever Young" member in their community.

Only 5,000 memberships will be sold this year and membership to the "Forever Young" show can be purchased by visiting www.billfrank.com. If chiropractic is to lead the wellness movement, it will need this kind of exposure to have a chance.

All chiropractors should be marketing their practices locally because collectively, it makes a dent in the awareness of chiropractic globally. Ultimately, we must showcase our great work on the biggest stage in the world, national television.

Members will also be eligible to purchase DVDs of any show to be used in their office or to be aired on a local channel with your own commercials inserted into the show. Check out the "Forever Young" show on the Discovery Channel and then visit the website to find out how you can become a member.