Each medical department is assigned a coordinator and a development staff contact , who direct each year's campaign. Method of name acquisition Patient names come from the admissions department, and are treated with a high level of confidentiality. For our major gifts program, we also screen admissions daily for individuals of known wealth or with special interest in the medical center. No one is solicited while still an inpatient. Development officers may visit major donors or prospects in the hospital after consulting with their doctor, the floor nurse, or the patient himself.
Most patients appreciate the attention.
In some cases, such as board members, senior administrators may visit. Appropriate methods of asking Generally, the best and most appropriate method of asking is through the patients' physician. Mail as a tool for such programs Some weeks after the patients' discharge, we send letters describing the Faculty and Friends Campaign. The letter, signed by the patient's physician, talks about research and patient care programs in the department where the patient was treated, and the need for unrestricted funds to continue the work. All of our doctors contribute to the Campaign, and the letter points that out.