May 2005

How to become a paid researcher

by Dr. Terry A. Rondberg

As you probably have all heard by now, two respected researchers ‑‑ Robert Blanks, PhD, and Matthew McCoy, DC ‑‑ have joined with one of our most popular chiropractic leaders, David A. Jackson, DC, to form a private sector research company called RCS (Research & Clinical Science).

When it was first announced that their company would recruit thousands of chiropractors around the world to compile standardized data on hundreds of thousands of patients and volunteers, everyone was excited. At last, here was our chance to do the research that would prove chiropractic's effectiveness and safety! No more waiting around for funding from some giant health organization. No more having to settle for a government grant for another back pain project.

Then came sticker shock. I'm told that designing and conducting a massive study like this costs millions of dollars. I doubt if many of us realize how complicated, difficult and expensive this kind of project is. I sure didn't, until Dr. Jackson explained to me that RCS had to:

***  Design and beta test a complex Internet‑based data collection system

***  Prepare and submit an IRB proposal to Florida Atlantic University

***  Write and produce a huge amount of support and administrative materials

***  Recruit and select a world‑class International Scientific Advisory Panel comprised of PhDs, MDs, DCs and other health care and research specialists

***  Develop all the systems and procedures needed to allow for continual analysis of data

***  Write and submit research papers to peer‑reviewed scientific journals

***  Conduct an aggressive public relations campaign to make sure all people are aware of the findings of the research project

***  ... and much more

Since RCS couldn't rely on the NIH to write them a check, they went a different route. They went directly to the profession for funding. After all, the profession came up with more than $7 million for the ACA to file unsuccessful lawsuits against Trigon and Blue Cross. Surely, they wouldn't hesitate to raise that amount for the largest population‑based study ever conducted (note: this won't be just the largest chiropractic study ‑‑ it'll be the largest health care study!).

But they decided not to ask doctors to simply pay for the entire research project out of their own pockets. Instead, they designed the program so every participating doctor gets paid to do the research.

No, you don't get a per‑hour fee, or an honorarium for the data you collect. You get paid in new patients and increased credibility (which, in turn, results in even more new patients).

RCS doesn't like to talk about the profit‑making potential of the research program. They prefer to stick to talking about the research they're going to produce that will prove once and for all that subluxations exist and have a tremendous negative impact on health, and that chiropractic care can enhance all aspects of wellness for every single human being on the planet.

But I was in practice a long time and I know how important income is to our very survival. If we don't constantly attract new patients, we end up running in place. Normal attrition will eat away at our patient base until we're barely surviving. So, we hold open houses, patient appreciation days and screenings and other community events to introduce people to chiropractic. Once we get a chance to talk with them about chiropractic, we stand a good chance of making them understand how important it is to their health. Given just a few minutes of one‑on‑one time with someone, we can often overcome decades of anti‑chiropractic propaganda. Our passion and purpose are contagious and after a good education session, people "get it."

That's why RCS isn't only a fantastic research program, it's a permanent new patient solution. As RCS Authorized Research Sites, doctors will use the same kind of volunteer recruitment ads used at the Mayo Clinic and the US Naval Medical Research Center. RCS doctors will provide volunteers with a free chiropractic evaluation and a unique report called the Vitality Wellness Index, which will show them graphically just how they "stack up" to all the other people in the RCS database. They'll have a chance to actually compare their results to the rest of the population and see exactly where chiropractic could help them.

RCS doctors don't have to change anything about their examinations or assessments ‑‑ they just give the volunteer the same exam they'd give any other prospective patient. That exam, along with the special RCS "Self Reported Quality of Life" (SRQOL) study the volunteer fills out via the Internet, provides all the data RCS needs. It's uploaded almost automatically to the RCS database, where it's analyzed by the Scientific Panel.

But while the panel is working with the data streaming in from thousands of chiropractic offices around the world, you're sitting in your office with your volunteers, explaining chiropractic and showing them their Vitality Wellness Index report. Right there, displayed in bold colors will be the results of their exam and SRQOL answers. They'll see clearly how much improvement they need to reach optimum health and wellness. You'll have an opportunity to give them your honest and professional evaluation.

If you feel they could benefit from chiropractic, you tell them that. Since you are clearly a researcher as well as a scientific, evidence‑based practitioner, you don't have to 'sell' them on chiropractic. With your new, enhanced credibility, you present your findings and allow them to make the decision to begin care as a paying patient. This is the same method used by the Mayo Clinic and most medical researchers when research volunteers wish to receive treatment above and beyond the scope of the research project.

In fact, this is what the Mayo Clinic consent form tells volunteers:

Will I need to pay for the tests and procedures?

‑‑ Insert when all tests and procedures are clinically indicated:

You and/or your health plan will need to pay for all tests and procedures that are part of this study because they are needed for your regular medical care. The study drug will be given to you at no cost. However, you may need to pay for the preparing of the study drug. You or your health plan might also have to pay for other drugs or treatment which are given to help you control side effects. Before you take part in this study, you should call your health insurer to find out if the cost of these tests and/or procedures will be paid for by the plan. Some health insurers will not pay for these costs. You will have to pay for any costs not covered by your health insurer. If you have questions while at the Clinic, please [use information for your site and delete the others] (Rochester:) go to the Admissions and Business Services office, or you may call Patient Account Services at (507) 287‑1819. (Jacksonville:) go to the receptionist at the Registration Desk at the first floor, main lobby of the Davis Building. (Arizona:) go to the concourse level Patient Financial Services office or call this office at (480) 301‑8000.

How much income does the average new patient generate for you office? If you received 10‑20 new patients each month ‑‑ without having to do more screenings or a lot of additional work ‑‑ would you feel your research efforts were being appropriately compensated? Most doctors would! In fact, you'd probably end up being "paid" far more in increased practice volume than many full‑time researchers.

RCS doesn't talk about this very much, but the enrollment fee if like an investment in your future. As an RCS Researcher, you'll get something better than a paycheck. You'll get more patients and credibility, along with the satisfaction that comes from proving chiropractic works and bringing it to more people everywhere.

That's what I call a great return on investment!

(For more information on RCS, call 800‑909‑1354 or 480‑303‑1694, or visit the RCS website at www.rcsprogram.com.)