2590 Beware Referral Networking Services
Printer Friendly Email a Friend PDF RSS Feed
Dynamic Chiropractic – March 29, 1991, Vol. 09, Issue 07

Beware Referral Networking Services

By Editorial Staff
Dear Editor:

I would like to alert your readers and my fellow peers about an organization called Healthlink, which represents itself as a PPO/referral organization to network with attorneys in your area.

The membership fee of $395 was guaranteed to be refunded should the member doctor not recover at least that much in business as a result of his membership. I joined this group in April 1990, and after several months of being given the run-around it now appears that Healthlink is out of business.

Many attempts to reach this company have failed. Their phones have been disconnected, and written letters to Vice President, Dr. Mark Schweiager of New Orleans, Louisiana have not been answered. It now appears that I have been swindled out of $395 with no recourse to recoup these funds.

Honesty and ethics apparently have escaped this man and his company. I only hope that I may have alerted other doctors to this situation, who may also be involved or may be anticipating joining similar organizations. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who may know something about Healthlink and any recourse I might take concerning this company and Dr. Schweiager. The moral to this story is, "Look before you leap."

Michael C. Lane, D.C.
Salt Lake City, Utah

Editor's Note:

The New Orleans Parish district attorney's office is currently investigating Gregory Brown, a man who, according to the ADA News January 7, 1991, "raked in millions through various commercial referral service companies under ProMark" (the parent company). Mr. Brown was arrested in New Orleans in relation to a California probation violation. Back in 1986 Mr. Brown pleaded guilty to 33 counts of forgery and two counts of grand theft. At the time, his place of business was listed as California Healthlink in Orange County. New According to Orleans Parish district attorney's office, Investigator John Montalbano, telemarketing referral services have been surfacing under an assortment of names, such as Lawlink, Healthlink, and PITLA (Personal Injury Trial Lawyers' Association), and some "20 other names." Some of these organizations are being run by former colleagues of Gregory Brown, we learned from Mr. Montalbano.

If you have been "ripped off" by a telemarketing referral service, as allegedly was Michael Lane in the above letter, you may wish to write to:

John Montalbano
District Attorney of New Orleans
619 S. White St.
New Orleans, LA 70119

Dynamic Chiropractic editorial staff members research, investigate and write articles for the publication on an ongoing basis. To contact the Editorial Department or submit an article of your own for consideration, email .

To report inappropriate ads, click here.