It is hard to know when inspiration will strike, and the source of that inspiration can often be quite surprising. So when I came across a seemingly minor news item in a Minnesota paper, I was somewhat astonished by how the content of that article led to overwhelming feelings of inspiration. The article was about an award-winning chiropractic doctor, and after reading the article a few times over and considering its meaning, I realized the far-reaching implications of this man’s spirit of community and his willingness to go above and beyond solely for the benefit of others.

The story was about Dr. Richard Ottomeyer, a chiropractic doctor who had recently been named the Medicare Physician Champion Community of Practice Provider, an honor that is presented by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid. Dr. Ottomeyer had earned the award because he had worked diligently to ensure that the medical community was educated regarding massive changes to something called the ICD-9, which outlines the potential diagnosis codes for the health diagnosis system. The changes Dr. Ottomeyer discussed with these medical professionals had to do with the expansion of those codes from 17,000 in the ICD-9 to over 64,000 in the new ICD-10.

Without Dr. Ottomeyer’s efforts, patients could have faced massive delays due to issues with adjusting the medical claims process. The doctor’s massive undertaking spanned the entire nation, all for the simple goal of avoiding the potential for a reduced level of care available to patients. While reading this article, I tried to parse out any personal benefit for Dr. Ottomeyer and was unable to find anything significant enough to warrant his nationwide efforts. It is clear to me this was done out of a desire to do what is best for others, and I found myself inspired to closely follow the doctor’s example.

From this point forward, I will remain committed to always trying to do what is in the best interest of others with no regard for my personal benefit. I have always thought of myself as someone who is keenly interested in helping others, but the scale of the doctor’s efforts has made me realize that there is far more that I can do for others if I am willing to put forth more time and effort. Thanks to that small news item in the Minnesota newspaper, I have been inspired to make a concerted effort to be much more altruistic in my actions.