How it works

Similar to collecting points or stamps to turn in for a free drink at your favorite coffee shop, this program is designed to offer up gifts for repeat visits. Instead of points, there are several tiers with exclusive PCRU swag at each level and your eligibility is determined by your participation with us. Starting with your next appointment, you will be able to complete tiers based on how you choose to participate over the course of a year.

When you meet the criteria for a given tier, you will be gifted the item listed for that tier. Some tiers have just one item, but others may offer you a choice. The tiers are also not necessarily sequential. This means every person may have a different timeline and move through the tiers in a different order. A year after your first qualifying visit, your progress will start over, and it will continue rolling over annually. You can read more about what is offered in each tier and how to qualify below:

For studies that are very long (more than 6 months) there are special gifts and bonus items built-in to your follow-up visits instead, so don’t worry if you don’t fit these tiers, we promise you won’t miss out!

Who is eligible?

Other than the descriptions within each tier, there are some overall criteria for receiving your gift. The criteria differs between the screening tiers (newbie, expert, and legacy) and the study tiers (bronze, silver, gold).

• For screenings:
  • Participants must complete all screening-day procedures requested by staff.
  • If you are unable or unwilling to finish your screening on the day you are scheduled, you may return to complete at a later date, but the gift will not be provided until all of the procedures are completed.
  • If you are deemed not eligible for the study at any point during your screening for a medical reason, that screening is still considered completed.
  • For first time screenings (tier 1): participants must be new to the PCRU or be a retuning volunteer after an inactive period of 5 years (meaning no past appointments within 5 years of the eligible new screening date).
• For studies:
  • Participants must complete all on-study procedures as stated in the Informed Consent Document (ICD) and meet criteria to receive their in-house portion of the stipend as described in the ICD (not including any completion bonus)
  • Participants on studies with multiple admissions must complete all admissions
  • Participants on studies with on-site follow-up visits must complete all of these visits
  • Participants withdrawn by the study PI for a medical reason at any point will be considered completed at the point of their withdrawal. Participants who choose to withdraw or are withdrawn for a non-medical reason will receive their prorated portion of the stipend as described in the ICD but will not be eligible for the Loyalty Tier gift.

How do I sign up?

There is no opt-in necessary, this program is offered automatically to all participants who sign up for any study at our unit from the time of the program launch until the program is altered or terminated.

When do I get my gift?

This depends on the tier. For screening tiers, you will receive your gift prior to leaving the unit upon completion of the qualifying screening visit. For study tiers, you will receive your gift at the completion of your last on-site visit of a qualifying study, so this may be at your discharge from the unit or at your last follow-up visit, whichever is later.

My gift was lost or stolen. Can I get another one?

Unfortunately, the nature of this program is to provide our participants with limited-edition prints and items that are unique, so this means we order them in a limited quantity and will continue to change them over time. In order to ensure we have enough for others we cannot replace anything that is lost or stolen. We also may no longer have the same item available. However, that means we are always looking for new and better gifts, and each year your progress is reset so you can return and receive different items over time.

The NHCRU reserves the right to determine appropriate items and gifts. All gifts are subject to availability and may be substituted as needed with a different item of similar value even if this page has not been updated. Eligibility for this program will be determined by the NHCRU, and the NHCRU reserves the right to change the terms or terminate this program at any time. If you have any concerns or issues you may contact your study recruiter directly by phone or email. If you are not currently part of a study you may call PCRU Recruitment at 800-254-6398.