Written by Remote Medical International CEO, Wayne Wager.
I have had the privilege of serving as CEO for four medical companies. I have led through many challenges, including market crashes, FDA regulatory conflicts, and recessions.
But I can say with certainty that 2020 represents the most challenging year of my career.
Uncharted Territory for the Global Economy
When we completed our 2020 business plan in late 2019, we couldn’t have imagined what was in store for Remote Medical International (RMI) in the year that would follow. On February 29, as I flew back to Seattle from the UK, it was clear that the entire world was in uncharted territory.
Our company has been providing medical services in remote and challenging locations around the world for fifteen years. However, it was clear that to meet our existing and new clients’ needs, we had to design and implement a suite of new services at an accelerated speed.
We built on our past medical experience, but it felt a little like the “Houston, we have a problem” phase of development.
Creating COVID-19 Services to Fight a Pandemic
We quickly developed COVID-19 Screening and Testing services to meet our clients’ needs. We also attracted new clients from industries we had never worked with before. The common goal that our diverse group of clients shared was, “how do I get back to work and protect my employees?”
Our operations and sales teams also quickly put together a Consulting service to inform clients about screening, testing, and case management plans to meet their needs. The project was challenging because the guidelines and best practices for screening and testing technologies were changing daily.
Rapid Organizational Response Time
Throughout the service design phase, I was stunned by the resilience of our team. The RMI team responded rapidly to the challenge with integrity, creativity, and a collaborative attitude.
We successfully positioned RMI as one of the first companies with COVID-19 medical support services, thanks to the excellent work of several departments within our organization.
Product Management
We needed to define and design new screening and testing services quickly. Our Product Management team forged new connections with labs in the United States and abroad. This provided the structure that enabled RMI to respond promptly to this demand.
Clinical Governance
While many regulations were relaxed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, RMI’s Clinical Governance team ensured that our services were of the highest standards and met international, federal, and state regulatory requirements. They were constantly calling each state’s medical department to get the latest updates.
Operations
The RMI Operations department had to manage the new services’ day-to-day delivery with a staggering increase in the number of medical providers on-site in locations worldwide. They had to work through many weekends to make sure products and services were delivered on time.
Marketing
We needed to redevelop the website to communicate to the world that we were ready to provide these critical services. The Marketing group’s website redesign expanded our reach to make clients in new markets aware of RMI’s services.
Sales
Our Sales team also carried the message of RMI’s services to new and existing clients. They explained testing options to clients, including RMI’s recommendations. And by working with our Operations team, they rapidly rolled out the new screening and testing services.
Closing out 2020
As we enter the final weeks of 2020, I am grateful for my associates’ resilience at RMI and what we have accomplished. I grieve for the loss of life and the existential stress on companies and their workforces.
Over the past ten months, we have kept an overwhelming amount of employees and communities safe in the manufacturing, entertainment, maritime, oil and gas, renewable energy, agriculture, and food industries.
We intend to carry RMI’s momentum into 2021 with screening, testing, and additional services that can soften the pandemic’s effect. I am proud of our company’s efforts to protect and save lives so that workers and organizations can get back to work.
I look forward to sharing my thoughts on what lies ahead in 2021.
Wayne Wager
Chief Executive Officer