The Po’ Boy
The Po’ Boy is the quintessential New Orleans food: simple, satisfying and uniquely Nawlins. My first Po’ Boy came during my inaugural Mardi Gras in 1990. After an afternoon of “celebrating,” it was time to eat, so we queued up at a little sandwich shop off St. Charles Avenue. There’s a language for ordering a Po’ Boy — when my turn arrived, I’d chosen my protein, then the cashier asked, “Dressed?” Unsure what that meant, I nodded. “Dressed” refers to all the classic fixings: shredded lettuce, tomato, pickles, and that perfect submarine dressing of mayo and oil. We stepped outside, sat on the sidewalk, and dove in. It wasn’t life changing—but it certainly left an impression.
This past weekend, I made a deconstructed Shrimp Po’ Boy. By “deconstructed,” I mean I skipped frying the shrimp; everything else was faithful to the original: a split French loaf piled with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, mustard, and submarine dressing. I shared one half with a guest and couldn’t believe how much joy a simple sandwich could bring after all these years.
You might be wondering what this has to do with federal workers’ comp—or healthcare, for that matter. Think of the Po’ Boy again: it’s a simple, yet layered expression of love in sandwich form. The folks in New Orleans who craft these sandwiches take immense pride in every component. Although all the ingredients are widely available, no major national chain has ever replicated the real deal. Why? Because you can’t mass-produce love.
Love is what makes a business or service unique, unforgettable, and truly irreplaceable. I’ve read Facebook posts from USPS letter carriers—they love what they do. At ONE-FED Injury Clinics, we love serving the federal community, and we show that love in three clear ways:
- Care without barriers: We see injured federal employees even before their claims are approved.
- Rapid access: We schedule every injured claimant within 24–48 hours of their injury.
- Lifelong oversight: We provide claims oversight for the life of each injured claimant’s file.
Our network providers treat a wide variety of patients, but every clinic shares one common thread: a relentless commitment to the highest standard of patient care, from the front desk to the treatment room. You can’t deliver true healthcare without love—for your patients, for your profession, and for the community you serve.
Most of us will have an opportunity to enjoy the long Memorial Weekend. We owe that ability to the men and women who loved and ultimately sacrificed for our county. Take a moment to process that Tuesday morning and recommit to your purpose, whatever that may be. Have a great week.
