Plum Health Blog
Dr. Paul Thomas Talks Direct Primary Care on the Powers Report Podcast
This week, Dr. Paul Thomas was featured on the Powers Report Podcast. In the podcast Dr. Thomas and Janis Powers talk about the pros and cons of Direct Primary Care.
Janis Powers talks in depth with one of direct primary care’s (DPC) most committed practitioners, Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC. In this episode, Dr. Thomas gives some great examples of the benefits of DPC, describing his in-depth relationships with patients. Powers also probes some of the challenges of scaling DPC, given the exclusivity of both insurance and provider networks in America.
In our opinion, Direct Primary Care solves so many challenges in the primary care system. Direct primary care addresses long wait times to see the doctor and the inflated cost of care.
Direct primary care is different than concierge medicine. Direct primary care is a monthly membership for health care and it usually costs about $50 to $89 monthly. With DPC, patients are not required to carry insurance, although most members have some form of insurance coverage. Concierge Medicine is billed annually and usually costs $2,400 per year. Concierge doctors require a premium health insurance coverage to expedite referrals and minimize prior authorization requests. In the past, our blog has covered this in depth, here.
In the podcast, we discuss how we’re able to save our patients 50% to 90% on medications, lab work, and imaging services. We buy medications at wholesale and pass on the cost savings to our patients, we draw blood at cost and pass on the savings to our patients, and we have found local imaging centers with very affordable cash-pay rates for services. This cost savings can make a big impact on folks with a limited income and limited access to high quality health care resources. We were recently featured on Channel 7 Action News about how we save money on prescription meds.
Thanks for reading and listening, and have a great day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC Featured in the Save Summer 2021 Campaign
We all want to get through this COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible. The best tool that we have at this time is the Coronavirus vaccine. A group of ambitious and vocal young adults and college students are working to get their peers vaccinated so that Summer 2021 can go off without a hitch. If everyone gets vaccinated, we’ll be able to have more graduations, concerts, get togethers, and celebrations while we minimize the risk of transmitting the virus. Check out their important work at Save Summer 2021!
Price Gouging on Your Lab Work - How to Prevent It From Happening to You
Why Are Lab Prices So High?
It’s no surprise that people get ripped off on their lab work. Patients and their families have no idea of the prices of the lab work that they’re having done. Doctors don’t really know either. Next time you get your blood drawn, ask your doctor what it will cost - chances are, they won’t know, or they may say “it will depend on your insurance coverage.”
That’s another issue with the high cost of labs. Hospitals can set prices at whatever level they want for their labs, and then insured patients will get a discount for having an insurance plan, but uninsured patients will be unsheltered from these high costs.
This recently happened to one of our patients - they went to a health care facility and requested labs, and they were charged about $494.72 for some basic labs.
$494.72 was charged to our patient for basic labs, consisting of a comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood count, thyroid stimulating hormone, a lipid panel, and a hemoglobin a1c, which is a test for diabetes.
In contrast, if that patient had the labs done in our office at Plum Health DPC, their total cost would have been $27.47, a savings of about 94%.
$27.47 was charged to our patient for basic labs, consisting of a comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood count, thyroid stimulating hormone, a lipid panel, and a hemoglobin a1c, which is a test for diabetes.
How Can You Reduce the Cost of Your Lab Work?
Imagine if you could save 50 to 90% on your primary health care costs?
Rather than spending $500 for labs, you could spend $30 for labs. What would you do with that extra $470?
Rather than spending $3,000 for a knee MRI, you could spend $300 for that same test. What would you do with that extra $2,700?
At Plum Health, our mission is to deliver affordable, accessible healthcare services in Detroit and beyond. So, we’re always looking at ways to save our patients money on health care costs - it’s just what we do.
In short, if you’re looking to save 50 to 90% on your lab workin Detroit or Metro Detroit, reach out to us at Plum Health DPC. If you’re living in another area of the country, look up a local direct primary care doctor near you!
Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
If you’d like to have this sort of direct primary care service and knowledge that you’re getting the best prices on your medical care, you can sign up here.
How Plum Health DPC Started
Recently, I had a great interview with Dr. Kevin Cuccaro and Dr. Melissa Cady of the Changed Physician. We discussed why I went into medicine and how Plum Health DPC came to exist. Here’s what they said about our practice:
This is Episode 67 of The Changed Physician Podcast with Dr. Paul Thomas discussing his journey into direct primary care with hosts, Dr. Kevin Cuccaro and Dr. Melissa Cady.
Timeline:
01:00 Why he went into medicine
03:00 Community outreach and art
06:30 His realizations during residency
09:15 What led to him discovering a new model of delivering medicine
12:30 Physician shortage area
14:30 What is DPC (Direct Primary Care)
15:30 How he provides affordable meds and labs for patients
16:15 Why Americans are screwed over by the Medical Industry
17:00 How DPC model empowers patients
19:20 How his interaction with his patients is now
22:20 Why he named his business Plum Health
24:45 The cost of his direct primary care model
26:50 How his practice model gives him time for his other pursuits
What is Plum Health DPC
Plum Health DPC is a membership model for primary care in Detroit, Michigan and Farmington Hills, Michigan. We believe that healthcare should be affordable and accessible for everyone. Our patients pay a membership to be a part of the practice, starting at $49 each month for adults. With that membership, they can call or text their doctor anytime they need care. We guarantee same-day or next-day appointments and no wait time for scheduled appointments. We also save our patients 50% to 90% on their medications, labs, and imaging costs.
What is Direct Primary Care
Direct Primary Care allows you to have a direct relationship with your doctor. For the equivalent of a monthly cell phone bill, you can receive direct, primary health care services that are tailored to your individual needs.
Healthy Food, Nutrients, Cognition, and Emotions in Detroit
Healthy Foods and Nutrients that can help with Cognition and Emotion
Today I’m talking about health food and nutrients and how they can impact your emotions and cognition. I love gardening and pulling tomatoes, peas, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, and squash fresh from the vine. We have a relatively small garden, three raised beds, but they churn out a good amount of food each year. Tomatoes usually do the best, but we had a surprisingly robust batch of peppers this year.
We use the tomatoes in dishes like salads and ratatouille and the peppers can season many different dishes. Here’s some photos:
Without further ado, let’s get into some healthy foods that can help with your brain health and emotional health.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3 fatty acids help to delay cognitive decline in the elderly and can help with mood disorders. Found in wild caught salmon, flax seeds, krill, kiwi, butternut, walnut
Vitamin D
Vitamin D can help preserve cognition in the elderly. Vitamin D can be found in fish liver, fatty fish, mushrooms, milk, soy milk, and some fortified foods like cereal grains. AND you can get more vitamin D by hanging out in the sunshine.
B Vitamins
B Vitamins like B6 and B12 has positive effects on memory performance in women of various ages. Vitamin B6 is found in a wide variety of foods, including: pork poultry, such as chicken or turkey, some fish, peanuts, soy beans, wheatgerm, oats, and bananas.
Vitamin C and E
Combinatoin of Vitamin C and E can help to delay cognitive decline in the elderly. Sources of Vitamin C include Citrus fruits, tomatoes and tomato juice, potatoes, red and green peppers, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe.
Want to learn more and read some relevant research? Check out this article:
Plum Health DPC Featured in Start Up TV Show on PBS This Fall
Exciting news! We’re going to be on a TV 📺 show called @startuptvshow on @pbs this fall 🍁 🍁 Our episode airs November 8th at 1:30 pm 🙌🏼 🙌🏼
Here’s what they said:
“😱 🤯 What if we told you that there is a direct primary care physician 👨⚕️ in Detroit that does house calls and offers books 📚 about how to start your own practice?
Awesome, right? You will learn more about Plum Health and their desire to provide affordable and accessible health care 💉 💊 🥼 on this season of START UP, premiering October 18th!”
Tune in every Sunday, as the show will be featuring some amazing business in Detroit 💯
Filming this episode was a multi-day process at our office in Corktown Detroit. We got to work with a very talented film crew with an amazing creative vision. The crew put a ton of effort and energy into the filming process and we hope that energy will be reflected in the final product.
This is our first time being featured for an extended interview, so there was a lengthy sit-down interview process and a great deal of B-roll footage, from us performing physical exam maneuvers on our patients in our office, to us counting out meds, and even a scene of Dr. Paul Thomas on a bicycle!
The episode will air on November 8th at 1:30 pm Eastern Time, so mark your calendars!
If you’d like to become a member of Plum Health, you can sign up here:
Thanks for reading and setting your DVRs!
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
More about the Start Up TV Show
Crain’s Detroit Business did a nice write up on the show, and described it as follows:
"Start Up," in its eighth season, gives viewers a look inside the world of the American entrepreneur. This season, with the first episode set to air at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 18, will feature 13 entrepreneurs — 12 of them based in Michigan. The season, according to show creator Gary Bredow, will center on how small-business owners and entrepreneurs have adapted to and navigated their way through what has been a turbulent 2020. The show will air on more than 350 PBS stations nationwide.
Start up season 8 teaser trailer
The Start Up crew put together a fantastic teaser trailer for Season 8, and you can see that teaser here:
Virtual Walk with the Doctor in Detroit's Oldest Neighborhood - Corktown
Virtual Walk with the Doctor in Detroit’s Oldest Neighborhood - Corktown!
This week, I'm hosting a virtual walk with the doctor. We're headed out into Detroit's oldest neighborhood, Corktown!
Boundaries of the Corktown Neighborhood
Corktown is a historic district located just west of Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It is the oldest extant neighborhood in the city. The current boundaries of the district include I-75 to the north, the Lodge Freeway to the east, Bagley and Porter streets to the south, and Rosa Parks Boulevard (12th Street) to the west. The neighborhood was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Why is Corktown Called Corktown?
The Great Famine of Ireland of the 1840s resulted in extensive Irish migration to the United States and Canada. By the middle of the 19th century, they were the largest ethnic group settling in Detroit. Many of these newcomers settled on the west side of the city; they were primarily from County Cork, and thus the neighborhood came to be known as Corktown.
Biggest New Investment in the Corktown Neighborhood
One exciting new development in Corktown is the Ford Headquarters that will be within the Michigan Central Station. The Michigan Central Station is on the western end of the Corktown neighborhood and it's been vacant since 1986. There is currently a billion dollar investment into the former train station to modernize the building and make it fit for the Ford Motor Company's headquarters.
This single investment is prompting other individuals and businesses to invest in the community by renovating old commercial and residential properties, as well as build new commercial and residential properties.
The Best Part about Corktown
The best part of Corktown in my opinion are the people who have invested in the community for the long term - the neighbors, the long-term residents, and the small business community. There are several small business that we pass on this walk that have been neighborhood stalwarts. They include but are not limited to:
This is the map for the Virtual Walk with the Doctor in Detroit’s Oldest Neighborhood - Corktown! We start at Plum Health DPC on Michigan Avenue, head east on Michigan Avenue to Sixth street, head south on Sixth Street to Porter. Then we head west on Porter, snake through the Corktown neighborhood, passing Mudgie’s Deli, Batch Brewery, Folk Detroit, among many other houses and small businesses, before we head back to Michigan Avenue and Detroit PAL.
My goal with this is to provide some education and entertainment during these trying times of Covid 19, quarantine, political uncertainty, and the stress of daily life. Take a few moments to enjoy this video and immerse yourself in a calming environment.
Perhaps you'll watch this video while on your treadmill, or perhaps this video will inspire you to check out your nearest park, nearest walkable community, or to hike a trail close to your home. Importantly, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends the following activity levels for adults:
For substantial health benefits, adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) to 300 minutes (5 hours) a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity. Preferably, aerobic activity should be spread throughout the week.
Additional health benefits are gained by engaging in physical activity beyond the equivalent of 300 minutes (5 hours) of moderate-intensity physical activity a week.
Adults should also do muscle-strengthening twice weekly and this has added health benefits
I bring this up because I’m a family doctor and because the leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease. From the CDC:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
One person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. About 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year—that's 1 in every 4 deaths.
The best way to combat heart disease is with regular exercise, a health diet, and no smoking cigarettes and limited alcohol consumption.
Thanks for reading and watching and I hope this video inspires you to strive for your health goals and to get outside for a walk this week!
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC in Detroit, Michigan
Dr. Paul Thomas takes you on a Virtual Walk with the Doctor, starting at Plum Health DPC, and venturing through Corktown, Detroit’s Oldest Neighborhood.
Dr. Paul Thomas Interviewed on Mix 92.3 with Cheron
This week, we had a great interview with Cheron of Mix 92.3 about our direct primary care services here in Detroit Michigan.
We're at Plum Health in Detroit's Corktown Neighborhood and we operate a membership model for health care. Our members pay $10 each month for children, and it starts at $49 each month for adults. With that membership, our patients can call, text, or email us anytime.
Our members at Plum Health also have access to 50 to 90% savings on medications, lab work, and imaging services. A big thanks to Cheron for the great interview!
- Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC