Alexi Vandenberg, Director of Business Development and Government Affairs, Medical Essential Diagnostics of New Jersey

Could you give us a brief overview of Medical Essential Diagnostics and what makes your approach different?

We’re a cardiovascular heart health care company built specifically for first responders: police officers, firefighters, EMTs, EMS, and other essential employees. We currently run seven clinics across New Jersey, soon to be nine. We take what the insurance company provides and leave everything else on the table, so the people who serve our communities never feel the financial impact.

What inspired MED to focus specifically on first responders and essential workers?

The founders recognized a real gap in care within the first responder community. One of the leading causes of death for first responders on the clock is a cardiovascular event, a heart attack. We realized they weren’t being served the way they deserve, given that they’re the ones protecting us and our communities. There was a clear need, and, as the saying goes, nature abhors a vacuum, so we filled it.

How has the Save My Life program evolved since MED first launched it?

It’s evolved in both scale and scope. We started with a single clinic open one day a week. Today we’re open seven days a week across seven clinics, soon to be nine. We’ve also broadened our diagnostic testing, from vascular and thoracic ultrasounds to EKGs, stress tests, blood work, and urinalysis. We’re continually refining the routine to make it the best it can be for our clientele.

What have you learned from bringing MED's testing directly to workplaces and communities through the MED Mobile Clinic?

The biggest lesson has been the importance of communicating directly and clearly with first responders, about both the need and the service we’re providing. First responders are wired to put everyone else first. So when we serve them, we have to remind them: you’re part of the people you protect. We protect you so that you can protect them.

What is one thing about MED's work that you think people understand only after experiencing it firsthand?

It’s the ease and convenience, and the fact that this isn’t something they have to worry about down the road. It also puts their mind at ease knowing we’re not looking for something wrong. We’re looking to make sure there’s nothing wrong, so we can prevent emergencies before they happen.

What is one challenge you encountered at MED that changed how you approach business development?

The biggest challenge has been becoming a genuine part of the first responder community. I haven’t served in that capacity myself, so getting inside their mindset, their concerns, and their fears, and learning to work from the outside in, has been difficult. Really, it comes down to walking in their shoes.