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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