IKOR Signs Franchise Deal for Asheville-Spartanburg-Greenville
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IKOR Signs Franchise Deal for Asheville-Spartanburg-Greenville

New Office Will Bring Healthcare Advocacy and Guardianship to Counties in North and South Carolina; Growing Network Seeks Candidates to Open Additional Offices

September 05, 2012 // Franchising.com // KENNETT SQUARE, PA – IKOR USA, a growing network of healthcare advocacy and guardianship offices that assist lawyers, bank officers and other fiduciaries in managing the short-term and long-term care of senior and disabled clients, today announced that it has signed a new franchise agreement for Spartanburg and Greenville Counties in South Carolina and Polk, Buncombe and Henderson Counties in North Carolina, the region covering Asheville, Spartanburg, Greenville and the surrounding area. Dale Lyles, a former hospital administration and senior living facility executive from Boiling Springs, S.C., will operate the new branch and expects to open in October.

"It is an honor to have been awarded an IKOR franchise," says Lyles. "For a number of years I was privileged to work with many clients in both North and South Carolina who were served well by providers, but I also observed a need for better overall coordination of medical care and financial management in both the senior and disabled markets. From the beginning, IKOR impressed me as an organization built on strong principles and consistently providing a very organized, professional and ethical response to this unmet need. I am confident that we will be a tremendous resource in this area and I look forward to strong growth and to meeting needs in the communities we serve."

IKOR was created here in 2000 by registered nurse and disability management expert Patricia Maisano to answer what she observed as a dire need for a strong, informed and dedicated voice to advocate on behalf of seniors, the disabled and their families. The company opened its first franchise location in 2010, and has grown steadily throughout the United States. Today there are 14 open branches in Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Massachusetts, Maryland and New Jersey and, including this latest deal, four additional units in the process of development. IKOR’s branch Managing Directors include pharmaceutical sales professionals; medical device professionals; lawyers, doctors, IT professionals, real estate and business brokers, language translators and other professionals who have similarly observed a gap in the support available to those needing care and who possess both the passion for helping others and the business acumen to succeed in the growing advocacy field.

Each IKOR office works with seniors or disabled individuals, their bankers and other fiduciaries, and others shouldering their care, tackling such issues as: determining whether remaining at home is viable and what provisions may be necessary; coordinating, attending and tracking the outcome of medical appointments; securing a space in the most appropriate facilities when home care is no longer an option; confirming prescribed medicines and therapies are administered properly; providing support in cases of elder financial abuse and other “at-risk” conditions; and much more. Each office also provides trained financial advocates who can handle Power of Attorney authorizations, routine financial management and other non-medical services.

To equip them to provide such support, IKOR offers franchisees initial and ongoing training, technology, personalized web pages and web support, marketing and operational assistance, counsel from a seasoned staff of business and advocacy experts, a resource for sourcing the most effective and affordable ways to optimize operations, and a broad range of professional affiliations through which to reach a bigger pool of prospective clients.

“There is a vast sea of families struggling to provide proper care for aging and ailing seniors, and in our experience more than twice as many families dealing with cases of physical or mental disabilities,” said IKOR President Cynthia Gartman. “IKOR is emerging as a versatile solution to the challenges these families face and a relief for the burden that too often falls to their fiduciary officials. And through our franchise program, we’re bringing that solution to more people in more regions of the country, providing both a business opportunity and a chance to make a difference.“

IKOR is now seeking ambitious individuals to open locations throughout the United States. Gartman said that such expansion will benefit all operators, as word of mouth spreads, brand awareness rises and neighboring offices can pool their resources to capitalize on a broader array of marketing opportunities. For more information on available territories, contact Bill LaRose at blarose@ikorusa.com or (877) 456-7872, ext. 712.

About IKOR USA

Based in Kennett Square, Pa., IKOR (www.ikorusa.com) was created by Patricia A. Maisano, a veteran of the healthcare industry with more than 40 years of nursing experience and nearly 30 years of experience in disability management consulting to corporations, federal, state and county government, municipal organizations and the insurance industry. After witnessing the many frustrations professionals faced in providing integrated health management services and helping families manage short-term health crises and long-term care issues, she began developing a solution and in 2000 launched IKOR, offering healthcare advocacy and case management for seniors, the disabled and those with special needs. In 2010, IKOR launched a franchise program, offering qualifying investors the opportunity to capitalize on the demand for such services with a comprehensive system backed by years of experience. The first franchised office opened in Chadds Ford, Pa. IKOR is seeking ambitious, business-savvy individuals interested in expanding its network into new territories. Information on available opportunities is obtainable by contacting Bill Larose at (877) 456-7872, ext. 712 or blarose@ikorusa.com. General information on IKOR, including a comprehensive explanation of the company’s approach to healthcare advocacy and guardianship, a complete list of services and more, may be found at www.ikorusa.com.

Media Contact:

Greg Pitkoff
GRiP Communications LLC
718.404.9277
greg@gripcommpr.com

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