NEW YORK, May 21, 2020 – New York publication THE CITY talked to Funeralocity.com founder Ed Michael Reggie about how the coronavirus outbreak has impacted the pricing of funeral services in the city. Unprecedented demand for funeral services in the New York City area has caused costs to soar. Prices for cremations, the most commonly requested service right now, have increased an average of 43%. Prices have also increased for traditional burials.

The New York City health department reported 32,000 fatalities from March 11 to May 2 — four times more deaths than the city’s normally expected figure. This unparalleled need for funeral services and the extra expense incurred by funeral homes in order to provide services safely has contributed to the increase in prices.

“No other region is indicating this kind of instability,” Reggie said. For grieving families, in addition to the higher cost, finding a funeral home that will take on a body can be a challenge. “In many instances, people are having to go to cemeteries outside of their immediate area, thus incurring additional transportation expenses,” he continued.

NEW YORK, October 18, 2019 – Rosanna Scotto and  Lori Stokes of Fox 5 Good Day New York spoke with Ed Michael Reggie, the CEO of Funeralocity, about trends in the funeral industry and how his company is working to bring transparency to process of purchasing a funeral.  Funeralocity.com is a comparison website that allows individuals to compare the prices, services and reviews of funeral homes and cremation providers in their area. This information has historically not been readily available, leaving the consumer unsure about what they are purchasing and how much it will cost.  Funeralocity’s web platform provides a solution to this problem.

Planning a funeral can be a difficult and confusing task, especially during times of grief when you may not be making clear decisions. According to Mr. Reggie, “Eighty three percent of people call only one funeral home at the time of need.”   If families are not able to compare the array of services and prices available at multiple funeral homes, they may be spending more than they need or not getting the end of life services they desire.  Reggie says that the best thing to do is to plan in advance.  It removes the burden from your loved ones of making these difficult decisions and may save you money.

NEW YORK, April 17, 2019 – Ninety-one percent of funeral homes and crematories across the country have never posted their prices online. But now there is a platform that has prices and more: Funeralocity.com is a new free comparison website offering users the largest search results of prices and locations of funeral homes and cremation providers in the US. Whether you are arranging an imminent service for a loved one or a future one for yourself, Funeralocity.com is an invaluable resource with its independently compiled up-to-date information for the top 100+ metro areas in the country. With a simple search, you can find options in all 50 states.

“Planning a funeral is one of the most sensitive, emotional times in a person’s life, and Funeralocity.com is a tool that makes the experience less painful,” says Ed Michael Reggie, the site’s founder. “We offer the largest and most up-to-date set of prices for funeral homes and crematories that users can search in the privacy of their homes. Often, people planning services are not in the location of their loved one, so finding a funeral home from afar can be a daunting process. Funeralocity.com makes it easier.”

“We are bringing transparency to the funeral business,” Reggie continues. “People planning services are often doing it for the first time and don’t know where to begin. Funeralocity.com is the place to compare all options in one place.”

Additionally, the site includes a special designation of “Excellence Provider,” that indicates a fully-vetted funeral home that meets the site’s exacting standards. The criteria for accepting a funeral provider that applies for this designation include confirming licenses, and government standards compliance and requiring adherence to Funeralocity.com’s Excellence pledge.

“Distinguishing the most qualified funeral homes is the key mission of Funeralocity.com,” Reggie noted. “We already furnish the most up-to-date pricing and information, but pointing consumers to the very best providers is a core objective of our business. Our ‘Excellence Providers’ are funeral homes and crematories that meet our very strict criteria and pledge to continue to offer those services that have made them the most reputable in their communities.”

The pledge includes a commitment to:

• Maintain strict compliance with the letter and spirit of all laws and regulations that impact the funeral consumer, the funeral profession, and public health
• Serve families in a professional and caring manner, respectful of their wishes and confidences, honest and fair in all dealings with them, and be considerate of those of limited means
• Carry out all aspects of services in a competent and respectful manner
• Refrain from engaging in any unprofessional conduct to deceive, defraud, or harm the public or the families being served
• Refrain from engaging in false or misleading advertising
• Maintain active community involvement and outreach
• Protect confidential information pertaining to the deceased or the family of the deceased from disclosure in compliance with all laws and regulations
• Charge families based upon its General Price List posted on Funeralocity.com;
• List the name of the Funeral Director in Full and Continuous Charge (“FDFCC”) on the funeral home’s profile on Funeralocity.com
• Provide to Funeralocity.com families a complete and clear itemized list of charges for services, facilities, equipment, merchandise and cash advanced items, and agree not to make any additional charges without their approval
• Inform Funeralocity.com within thirty (30) days of any action taken against the funeral home(s) or funeral home director(s) by any governmental or regulatory agencies
• Report any changes in license status to Funeralocity.com at funeralhomes@Funeralocity.com within ten (10) days of said change

Funeral homes and cremation providers that meet the site’s criteria and take the pledge are able to feature more detailed service information as well as reviews, photos, videos and testimonials on Funeralocity.com.

Media Contact:
Jeremy Murphy
jeremy@360bespoke.com
917-853-7146

BOSTON, February 14, 2018–ClinX, the holding company to ClinEdge and BTC Network, has acquired GuideStar Research. “Guidestar will continue to operate under its own name as a separate business unit with its existing infrastructure, which is great,” said Al Peters, President of BTC Network and Managing Director of ClinX. “ClinX will support Guidestar in its overall service excellence strategy by broadening product lines and adding new skills.”

This new partnership allows ClinX to continue to create a new research site services category dedicated to streamlining operations at the institutional level. The industry is witnessing the first multi-service company that brings a wide spectrum of services to those involved in conducting clinical trials, from hospitals and universities to private practice and dedicated research sites.

ClinEdge President & Managing Director of ClinX, Christian Burns is thrilled to announce the new venture. “Bringing together ClinEdge and BTC Network’s significant experience supporting private practices, health systems and research sites, and GuideStar Research’s unprecedented experience providing services to hospitals, academic organizations and universities was a no-brainer,” comments Burns. “Together with each company’s proven success, we will help deliver the most comprehensive and dynamic support system for research institutions of all types across the industry.”

Ed Michael Reggie, GuideStar Research’s Chairman agrees. “When our teams began exploring collaborative efforts, it quickly became clear that we had an opportunity to combine the top talent in the industry to create an unparalleled clinical research service model,” explained Reggie. “The combined strengths of these three companies is incredibly unique and powerful.”

Best practices from ClinEdge, BTC Network and now GuideStar Research will be incorporated across the organization’s global network of sites and through all of its service offerings. The integrated commercial approach benefits clients with a single comprehensive solution for trial sponsors and research sites focused on operational excellence.

Together as ClinX, the three companies fuse their incredible breadth and depth of services, which include; financial management, coverage analysis, consulting, study cultivation, patient recruitment, research site marketing, staffing, patient travel and more.

About ClinEdge

ClinEdge is a full-service business development, marketing, and patient recruitment firm dedicated to the success of clinical trials. The company’s two divisions, ClinEdge Engage, a leader in patient recruitment and retention, and ClinEdge Network, a network of high-performing investigational facilities across three continents, cultivate and maintain strong relationships with the world’s leading research facilities, pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations (CROs).

About BTC Network

BTC Network is an organization dedicated to streamlining the entire clinical trial process. BTC’s integrated network of research sites takes advantage of centralized services including pipeline management, financial operations, regulatory assistance, and patient recruitment. BTC works with sites and sponsors alike to make the conduct of clinical trials more efficient and cost-effective.

About GuideStar Research

GuideStar Research works with hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers and physician practices around the country to optimize clinical research programs. From helping to create clinical trial strategies to providing administrative support services, GuideStar Research’s service delivery led by the highest level of expertise is based on operational best practices to ensure clinical research program success.

Contacts

ClinEdge
Simonne Valdez, 857-496-0054 X514
Simonne@clin-edge.com
www.Clin-X.com