Wagons Ho

In 2017, we moved our practice from West Pembroke Pines to Fort Lauderdale. We had a chalkboard wall at our office where one of our team members drew a covered wagon with the message D.O.L. Injury Centers are moving East. I always move forward. I typically don’t spend too much time dwelling in the past, and that applies to most aspects of my life. While I relish memories, I do not ruminate on old business. However, I do revisit old books and movies that have impacted me deeply.

In previous blogs, I have shared my Mt. Rushmore list of mentors, one of whom is Arnold Schwarzenegger. I first read The Education of a Bodybuilder at age 14, around the time Conan the Barbarian was released. To say that book changed my life would be an understatement. It laid a framework for organization, determination, and hard work—principles that have guided me ever since. I have revisited it many times over the years. Currently, I am rewatching the Netflix documentary Arnold in Four Parts. The central theme of the documentary is moving forward, a philosophy that strongly resonates with me.

At present, ONE-FED is undergoing a significant transition—from a brick-and-mortar medical provider to a fully digital or virtual practice. We will continue providing the same claims and medical management services for patients as well as providers, but all our locations will now be managed virtually. For someone who has operated an office providing hands-on care for patients for the past 26 years, this is quite a shift. Although I have not personally treated patients for the past seven years, I have remained deeply involved in every claim and have worked closely with our providers and support staff daily.

Telemedicine is not new to our practice; in fact, we adopted this technology fairly early. However, the transition to a fully virtual model is proving to be a more significant step than originally anticipated. Embracing change after a long period of comfort can be an uncomfortable experience to say the least. As ONE-FED embarks on this latest endeavor, it naturally brings feelings of doubt and second-guessing. Ego, vanity, and emotions often interfere with the trajectory of making the right decision. This is where the internal struggle occurs—how do you determine if the decision you are making is the right one? Sometimes, you don’t know with absolute certainty. Instead, you rely on facts and experience to make life-changing decisions. And if my 26 years of experience have taught me anything, it’s that the weather charts don’t lie. The process of going from brick and mortar to virtual is firmly underway, next stop Meta.

I am sure that there will be some unaccountable obstacles along the way, and they will be dealt with like everything else that life sometimes throws at you. Head on! I am also certain that whoever is reading this is perhaps also going through their very own “moment of doubt and pain” – Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil. Stay the course. Stay the course. And “If self-preservation is an instinct you possess, you’d better do it and do it quickly” – Mr. Wolf, Pulp Fiction.

Have a great week, everyone!