Last week was amazing! We held a meeting in Oklahoma City entitled “Driving Practice Success.” Although we didn’t witness any, those of us who were not locals learned a bit about tornadoes. Those can certainly get your attention! But better still, we had a great group of people who came from Alaska to Florida and Maine to California. It was really great! We had a few key takeaways, and there was a lot of excitement for how OPIE makes life better. And we really didn’t talk much about the new stuff that will blow you away!

There are many leadership articles about the importance of empathy, and I want to come right out at the beginning and state that I am not advocating for the elimination of empathy in the workplace. I believe empathy is a crucial component of effective leadership and essential for successful relationships. Further, I think we have a hard time understanding the difference between empathy and sympathy and therefore feel conflicted as managers trying to manage in an increasingly emotional culture.

Do you want to get paid appropriately for your work? If you know me, you know that I strongly believe in the power of appropriate O&P intervention. It's incredibly rewarding to see how that care can empower individuals to regain mobility, independence, and a sense of normalcy in their lives. At the same time, it is crucial to educate the rest of the health care community about the fact that the value you bring extends far beyond the immediate improvements observed in your patients. Your meticulous documentation plays a critical role in communicating this value to that broader audience.

Last week I wrote about the problems we are having as a profession in getting paid for the professional services rendered in caring for persons in need of O&P care. That blog generated a lot of interest, I got phone calls, emails and comments posted online. Thank You! It is awesome to get feedback and obviously a lot of people are feeling the same frustration. Most of the questions were asking what we can do.

On February 2, 2024, HCSC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, announced its intention to complete its acquisition of Cigna’s Medicare businesses for $3.3 billion. Let that sink in. How many of you are fighting for increased reimbursements? How many of you are accepting contracts from private payers at rates BELOW Medicare?

Have you ever felt the raw power of waves crashing against the shore? Each wave, unique in size and force, dances to its rhythm. But there's an analogy here. Your team: where each person, with different roles and expertise, can be a formidable force. Adaptability, like waves adjusting to the shore, is crucial. Synergy, as Stephen Covey notes, isn't compromise; it's finding that third option where the sum is greater than the parts. Dive into the ocean of synergy – is your team riding the wave of common purpose?

Are you constantly running on empty? Or at least constantly running? In this blog, I discuss the importance of recharging and taking time for yourself as a leader. I share my experience of taking a break and enjoying a sunset in the Caribbean, and I encourage you to find your own "Caribbean sunrise" - a moment of serenity that will help you recharge and be a better leader.

In a world obsessed with glitter and gold, true leadership wears an invisible crown: character. Forget flashy resumes, integrity is the secret sauce that turns followers into fanatics. Ready to ditch the charade and lead with substance? Let's dive into the heart of real leadership, where character reigns supreme.

What do you think of when you read that word, Execution? Since this is generally a Business blog, I certainly hope your mind went straight to the meaning of getting things done. But the interesting thing is the flipside…what happens if we don’t get things done?

Are you interested in taking your practice to the next level? Do you want to turn your end-of-year reflections into tangible improvements? In this, my latest blog, I offer a guide to enhancing your practice's value, streamlining processes, and boosting patient care, all while keeping your team engaged and adaptable. Start your journey to operational excellence today. Remember that OPIE is committed to your success.

A year ago, what did you envision for your practice in 2023? What did you see when you conducted your environmental scan a year ago and set your business goals to capitalize on that? If you conducted a scan, were you right? What do you envision for your practice in 2024?

Do you have concerns about the labor market? Are you having a hard time staffing your practice? Do you think being a good leader is about bossing people around? Think again! Discover the SECRET to true leadership success and employee retention. Here's a hint: It's not about YOU. Dive in now and transform your leadership style!

I hope you had a great Independence Day celebration when we are reminded of the struggles, we as a nation endured to gain freedom and assert our individual rights. Among those is the right to do stupid stuff. Wait, really?