Member Services, Business Development, and the Member Information Center

Journal of the American Chiropractic Association, Nov 2004 by Fuchs, Caroline

Products and Promotion

ACA has had immense success with the Chiropractic Coding Solutions Manual 2004. To date, sales have exceeded all previous years. Our success is attributed to the new, easy-to-use design and increased promotion.

Monthly teleseminars were held from February through August. Teleseminars on coding and HIPAA generated the most significant interest and received very positive feedback. Look for information on the upcoming teleseminars in ACA publications.

State association conventions have contracted for 6 of ACA's Navigate the Insurance & Coding Process seminars, with more under discussion.

Endorsements

ACA continues to endorse quality products that can help doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic patients achieve better treatment outcomes and improve their quality of life.

We currently endorse Ekornes' "Stressless" chair, Innovative Choices' Therapeutica pillow, and Chiropak's backpack. Our relationship with Kensington Technologies has recently extended to cover the addition of a roller-bag to the "Contour" line of carrying cases. Three products are currently in the pipeline for evaluation-Medic Ice, a topical analgesic, Recaro, an automobile seating manufacturer, and Sinomax, a foam pillow manufacturer.

ACA recently entered into an agreement with Medcere to promote the Chirocere online practice management solution.

Online Classifieds-Hew ACA Member Benefit

Since July 2004, DC members can place free classified advertising on the ACA Web site. The member benefit has become so popular that we are now reconsidering internal management of the program.

Membership

As of Aug. 1, 2004,ACA's membership roster was 15,434. Along with the consolidation of our membership categories and the change to our new monthly billing system, we have improved the format of the renewal notices and developed a new dues invoice. Quarterly retention rates continue at an all-time high.

To grow membership and gain market share, ACA has initiated a large-scale recruitment effort. ACA also continues to improve retention by engaging existing members with tangible benefits. After two direct-mail efforts, ACA has already recouped its initial investment and attracted new members. Perhaps most exciting is the fact that these campaigns are attracting individuals who have never been ACA members.

As of Aug. 1, 2004, there are 5,090 SACA members. We now have 55% of the total number of students enrolled in chiropractic colleges (9,221), surpassing the 50% goal set by HOD in fall 2004.

By Caroline Fuchs, VP