From Skeptic to Startup: How a Telemedicine Idea Survived—and Thrived—in a Broken System
In this reflective solo episode, Dr. Bagares shares the untold backstory behind his early adoption of telemedicine, the struggles of launching a cash-based virtual practice, and how he handled rejection from both peers and the healthcare system itself. A must-listen for anyone frustrated with traditional healthcare or curious about innovation in musculoskeletal care.
🎧 Topics include:
- The inefficiency of follow-ups and how email/telehealth filled a gap
- Navigating non-competes creatively
- Facing industry skepticism
- When COVID changed the rules overnight
- Lessons learned—and how they shaped MSK Direct
Whether you're a patient, provider, or healthcare entrepreneur, this origin story shows what's possible when you're willing to bet on a better way.
🕰️ Timestamps:
- [00:00:00] | 🎶 Intro & Welcome
- [00:00:20] | Why I started this podcast
- [00:00:50] | Two types of visits: new vs. follow-up
- [00:01:31] | Follow-up inefficiencies and the email solution
- [00:02:06] | Early thoughts on telemedicine (2013!)
- [00:03:18] | The non-compete challenge that pushed me toward virtual care
- [00:04:27] | Could an online orthopedic practice work?
- [00:05:39] | The inefficiencies of the traditional system
- [00:06:23] | How I performed virtual physical exams
- [00:07:00] | Why not everyone needs to be seen in person
- [00:08:00] | Waitlists, delays, and missed windows for care
- [00:08:55] | Presenting my model to skeptics (and being laughed at)
- [00:09:51] | Proving it works: walking exams and patient engagement
- [00:10:20] | The surgeon who tried to talk me out of it
- [00:11:02] | Launching anyway—cash pay, no insurance
- [00:11:59] | Building slowly… until COVID hit
- [00:12:45] | “You hit the jackpot!”… or did I?
- [00:13:57] | The collapse of my model (ironically due to insurance)
- [00:15:07] | COVID proves it can work
- [00:15:55] | Helping those who doubted me
- [00:16:21] | Patients I still care for today
- [00:17:04] | How this experience led to MSK Direct
- [00:17:43] | 🎧 Outro and invitation to connect
#TelemedicineJourney #DirectCareDoctor #MusculoskeletalMedicine #RehabRedefined #HealthcareInnovation #OriginStory #Physiatry #TalkingRehabPodcast 💡💬💻🦴💥
💬 Question for listeners:
Have you ever experienced a healthcare visit that felt like a waste of time? What do you wish was different?
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