Today we’d like to introduce you to Oscar Hernandez, M.D.
Oscar, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I came to this country with parents who were political exiles from Cuba. Resources were limited but thanks to my dedicated parents I was able to complete undergraduate studies at Miami Dade Community College, now Miami Dade College and then Florida International University where I graduated with honors.
After spending time studying at the Royal University of Zaragoza in Spain I returned to go to medical school in Tulsa, Oklahoma and then did post graduate work in internal medicine and pediatrics at Michigan State University. I had always wanted to do primary care medicine but instead of choosing family practice as a primary care vehicle I chose an internal medicine/pediatrics residency because I had failed these rotations in medical school.
After finishing post graduate work, I immediately returned to Miami. Eight years of cold weather and snow in Oklahoma and Michigan helped me better appreciate the beauty of our South Florida environment.
When I came to Miami I bought an internal medicine practice from a retiring Jewish doctor in the Kendall area and a pediatric practice form another aging Jewish doctor.
Then Hurricane Andrew hit and Miami was turned upside down. I cared for many people who had no resources and started practicing in the Naranja/Homestead area as part of that outreach. I have stayed ever since, taking care of people from all walks of life. I have cared for people in their brightest moments and darkest hours. I have certified in Internal Medicine on 3 occasions and I have certified in Pediatrics on 4 occasions since that time. I have staff privileges at 2 local hospitals and with Baptist Health Systems at West Kendall Baptist Hospital.
As time went on, I recognized that much of the pathology and illness I was seeing was weight related and I started became interested in sleep disorders related to obesity as well as advances in weight loss medicine. I studied for and past the certification examination of American Board of Bariatric Medicine and started Florida Bariatrics and Nutrition to provide non-surgical weight loss services as a medical bariatrician. Ideal patients for non-surgical weight loss using FDA approved medications include patients who suffer from or are at high risk for weight related illness like infertility, diabetes, high pressure, cholesterol, heart disease and others. For many patients the reason for their overweight and obesity problems have to do with stress, medications, genetic issues, binge eating disorders, irregular meal times and poor sleep patterns. I personally analyzed these and interview the patient as part of their intake process.
Unlike other commercial weight loss offerings, I guarantee our patient’s weight loss.
When they finish their weight loss program and enroll in weight maintenance patients are given free touch ups when they go up 10% of whatever they lost initially. There is no limit to how long they can participate in the maintenance program.
My weight management expertise was recognized by Discovery Channel and A&E networks and about 3 years ago they filmed the documentary “600 Pound Mom” and its sequel, “Race Against Time”, featuring my efforts to save the life of a patient in Little Haiti. That exposure has helped me understand the importance that media can make in helping patients become aware of obesity problems. It led to my current radio show on 90.9 FM here in Miami, Health Talks. I am also in the process of developing a reality program about obesity, “Fat City”, on FYI networks with William Browning Productions.
For the past three years I have been focused on developing affordable concierge care for all patients and started MetroMed Direct Care. The adoption of the Affordable Care Act that has helped many Americans have access to health care for the first time has been a great thing. But for many others the costs of their health care have gone up or they have seen their premiums go up on the insurance exchange. Many are looking for health care that is affordable outside the box of traditional insurance and have contracted directly with doctors for their family’s primary care, including the doctor’s primary care service in the hospital. In the past this has been prohibitively expensive for many patients, with concierge programs selling for north of $1000.00 a month. But Direct Patient Care programs all over the country often care for a family of 4 for under $150.00 a month.
For catastrophic events like hospital care, heart attacks and emergency room care patients often co-enroll in sharing programs like Liberty Health Share that comply with the Affordable Care Act so there are no tax penalties. Liberty is a national nonprofit that we partner with for this purpose. With direct care, patients get same day appointments and a special 24 hour a day phone number where they can reach me personally for any urgent matter. The Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinnel took note of our program and ran an article about our services in their sectionConsumer News 2/17 (search Dr. Oscar Hernandez) on the Sentinnel web site.
After passage of Amendment 2 to the Florida Constitution I was approved by the State of Florida to certify patients for medical marijuana and started Florida Compassionate Medical Cannabis services for patients who have end of life pain, PTSD, intractable cancer pain, advanced Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis with muscle spasms.
Although the Amendment allows for other uses, patients I see have advanced disease and have failed other modalities of pain control. This is a growing field and our company is positioned for this growth. Patients I certify must be in my care on an ongoing basis in order to avoid those who would simply be looking for these products for their euphoric effect. It has been of great satisfaction to me to know that I am caring for patients who have reached the end of rope when it comes to pain care.
Other services I am certified to provide in our community include immigration physicals and Federal Commercial Driver License Medical Examinations.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When you are in business, especially a growing business that is in a constant and changing regulatory environment there are many ups and downs.
Hurricane Andrew, a divorce, office relocation, 7 children and 2 dogs always make for drama. The recession was a time when we lost 30% of our business but did not let any of our team members go. The past 5 years have been a special time of growth as we develop ancillary products and services that meet the needs of our growing community, including immigration services for patients from all over Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Metromed of Miami, Metromed Direct Care, and Florida Bariatrics and Nutrition story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in primary care, weight loss services and Concierge care for busy executives and their families. We provide services in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Creole.
I am Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and have passed the certifying examination of the American Board of Bariatric Medicine.
I have been practicing with my colleagues, Dr. Jorge Gil, Kathy Ganem ARNP and Danitzzah Leon ARNP for many years in the Kendall and Homestead area. The community knows because we have been neighbors for over 26 years. I am now caring for the grand children of some of my original patients. We have cared for the indigent, the wealthy, the insured, uninsured and those who are in transition. Year after year we see faithful patients return to our care because they trust us and know us for practicing compassionate state of the art medicine.
We are different because we are private physicians not bound to a commercial chain of health care outlets. We take many varied insurances and self pay patients and do not require our patients to affiliate with any particular health care outlet. We have no answering service. When you call because your kid is sick at 3 in the morning, I am the doctor who answers on the other end of the line.
I am most proud that we combine state of the art care with old fashioned personal relationships.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck.
I am a person of faith and as I look at the landscape of my personal and professional life I see that it has had direction even when I had no idea what direction I was going in. As a Christian physician I am convinced that the work I do is an expression of the compassion and service that God calls me to each day. So long as I am faithful to that task I believe Providence will protect that mission, guide my steps, and open doors of opportunity that I would otherwise have no access too.
Each time I think I am at the end of the rope, financially or personally, it is never the end. Instead it has been the place from which to jump to the next big thing.
Pricing:
- Direct patient care $80.00 one person/month, $120
- Telemedicine Services $25.00 a month, up to 10 visits, no wait no copay.
- Medical Weight loss enrollment including most medication, $250.00/month, maintenance $60.00 every 6 weeks.
Contact Info:
- Address: 14221 SW 120 Street, Suite 129
27032 South Dixie Highway, Naranja - Website: MYMETROMED.COM METROMEDDIRECTCARE.COM MEDICALCOMPASSIONATEMARIJUANA.COM
- Phone: 305 246 0240 | 305 279 1515
- Email: INFO@metromedfl.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/metromedmiami
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
