Plum Health Blog
Plum Health DPC Started in 2016
Plum Health DPC Started in 2016
We started Plum Health DPC in November, 2016. We started by making house calls for our patients. We recognized a need for excellent primary care services in Detroit, and we strive every day to meet that demand. We have had great growth over the last 5 and a half years, and we’ve needed to grow and add more doctors.
Plum Health Grew into a Larger Office on Michigan Avenue in 2019
We decided to build out a new space in Corktown, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, on Michigan Avenue near Trumbull. We’re at “The Corner” or the property where the old Tiger Stadium used to sit. When Tiger Stadium was torn down, the ball field/baseball diamond was perserved as a field for Detroit youth sports via Detroit PAL or Police Athletic Field. The properties around the perimeter of the park became the building where our office is, which has 3 floors of apartments above 1 floor of retail. There are also condos on the perimeter of the old Tiger Stadium site going up on Trumbull avenue.
Anyways, here’s some old pictures from about October 2018 when we leased out our new space and it started construction to eventually become our office.
The construction finished in October 2019! Boy did we have to be patient, but once it was complete, we were ready to serve the community with an amazing primary care and health care experience.
We love practicing in this space, and now we’re coming up on 6 years in practice as Plum Health DPC and 3 years in practice at the Michigan and Trumbull or “The Corner” location.
This is such an amazing place to work and to serve patients and we get to fulfill our mission of delivering affordable and accessible health care services in Detroit and beyond!
Plum Health Continues to Thrive into 2022
Now, we have three amazing doctors - Dr. Raquel Orlich, Dr. Leslie Rabaut, and Dr. Paul Thomas - serving patients in Corktown, Detroit, and beyond. We take care of about 1,150 patients at this point. Our patients are of all ages and stages - pediatric patients, young adults, older adults, and geriatric patients. We take care of a variety of health care conditions - high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, asthma, physical exams for work, and so much more, too many conditions to list.
To celebrate and to say thank you, we are having a thank you party at the Congregation Detroit tonight at 5:30 pm. Join us!
-Paul Thomas, MD with Plum Health DPC
Plum Health Featured on Fox 2 News Detroit for Lowering the Cost of Insulin
Plum Health Featured on Fox 2 News Detroit for Lowering the Cost of Insulin
Yesterday, Plum Health DPC was featured on Fox 2 News Detroit for lowering the cost of insulin in Detroit and beyond.
MANAGING DIABETES IN DETROIT
Diabetes care can be difficult and expensive, especially if you’re uninsured. If you’re uninsured and trying to access diabetes care, patients can face the following costs:
$150 for a primary care visit
$150 to check hemoglobin a1c
$150 to check blood sugar via a comprehensive metabolic panel
$300 for insulin at the pharmacy
$10 for Metformin (Glucophage) at the pharmacy
At our Plum Health office, we dramatically lower the cost of these vital services to help our diabetic patients manage their blood sugar.
$55 to $75 monthly for as many primary care visits as it takes to manage your diabetes
$6 to check hemoglobin a1c
$6 to check blood sugar via a comprehensive metabolic panel
$0 for insulin at our Plum Health clinic as we get several free samples from industry
$0.30 to $0.60 for Metformin (Glucophage) at our Plum Health clinic
What makes this pricing difference even more important is that folks with diabetes need to check their hemoglobin a1c every 3 to 6 months to ensure that they are managing their diabetes effectively.
Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC being interviewed by Fox 2 News about the high cost of insulin in Detroit and beyond. People routinely pay $125 for 1 pen of long-acting insulin like Tresiba. At our Plum Health DPC office, we are able to get free samples so that the cost is $0 for our members at Plum Health. Our mission is to make health care affordable and accessible, and lowering the cost of insulin is just one way that we achieve that mission.
Here’s our social media post about Insulin Costs in Detroit:
These insulin pens are $125 a piece at your local pharmacy. 🤑 💰
They should be capped at $35 a piece, but that protection was removed by Congress this week. 🤯😭🤢🤮
Fortunately, we get free samples from industry to help our patients at Plum Health DPC ✅
Tune in to Fox 2 News at 6 pm with Veronica Meadows as we talk about what’s broken in our healthcare system and what we’re doing to fix it 💯
#PlumHealth #DirectPrimaryCare #FamilyMedicine #insulin #drugprices #healthcare
Here’s what Fox 2 News Detroit wrote on their webpage about the story:
FOX 2 - For those who have diabetes, many know the struggle of paying for insulin.
"This can be $125 per pen at the pharmacy," said Dr. Paul Thomas. "In the United States there’s seven million people who need to take insulin and 25 percent of those cannot afford the insulin, they need to manage their diabetes."
For Raphael Wright, that stress hits close to home. A Detroit entrepreneur — Wright says at first he didn't have health insurance. He says his out-of-pocket cost for insulin used to be around $300 a month.
"It was a punch in the gut, I did not feel good," he said. "I am on the fringe because now I'm worried about getting my lights cut out. You need electricity to keep insulin cold."
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) says starting in January the inflation reduction act will help more than three million in the US afford insulin.
"If you receive your health care through Medicare your insulin medicine will be capped your cost at $35 a month," she said.
But Senate Republicans stripped a provision that would have capped the price of insulin in the private marketplace. That cap also doesn't apply to people who don't have insurance.
"I think we should have a $35 cap for all Americans because there are a lot of people who are uninsured - they make too much money to qualify for Medicaid and not enough money to buy private insurance," said Dr. Thomas. "And even if you have private insurance your deductible could be $7,000."
Thomas is the founder of Plum Health Direct Primary Care in Corktown. He says thanks to free samples, his patients don't pay for insulin.
Thomas says his mission is to make healthcare accessible to everyone — especially diabetes patients. He says the results are devastating for those who are priced out of insulin.
"They’re going without, because of that high cost, and essentially this leads to really bad outcomes: Diabetic retinopathy which can cause blindness, diabetes does damage to your blood vessels, which can lead to early heart attacks and strokes," he said.
Thomas says diabetes is the number one cause of amputations and blindness in the United States. He says that is one more reason why insulin needs to be affordable for everyone.
Dr. Raquel Orlich is a Family Medicine Doctor in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Raquel Orlich is a Family Medicine Doctor in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Raquel Orlich is a family medicine doctor and she has been practicing with our clinic, Plum Health DPC, in Corktown Detroit for the past 2 years and 8 months. She provides excellent, compassionate care for our patients at Plum Health and delivers comprehensive care for all of her patients.
Dr. Raquel Orlich is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Board Certified in Obesity Medicine. She loves helping her patients with musculoskeletal issues via the use of Osteopathic Manual Medicine (OMM), she enjoys engaging in women’s health care issues, and she enjoys addressing overweight and obesity issues as she helps her patients lose weight and become healthier.
Further, Dr. Raquel Orlich’s patients love the care that she delivers. This is best captured by a recent Google review from one such patient:
By far the best in health care I've ever dealt with. I was only a patient here under a year, but I gleaned so much info and confidence in my health journey. I moved to another state and am constantly wishing I could just hop in to Plum! I saw Raquel Orlich specifically, and she was a joy as well as being supremely comfortable, knowledgeable and communicative. Every test was returned with detailed results so I was never once confused or doing my own research or guessing at how to correct the issue. She always heard me out and was willing to explore even if I was wrong. I was never brushed off and I usually left feeling confident. Chris was amazing and so welcoming as well and made all the labs a breeze. I'd honestly stand outside with a sandwich board on waiving cars into the parking lot like H&R block in tax season if they wanted me to. 🤣 They are so worth it.
Further, Dr. Orlich has been with us for 2 years and 8 months, so she knows many of the resources available to patients here in Detroit and beyond. This allows her to guide patients to the best care options and reach their optimal health.
Thank you Dr. Orlich for all that you do for our clinic and our patients!
The above photo was taken in March 2019 - Dr. Orlich was completing the last few months of her residency program and she was coming by to pick up a fresh new white coat and her new business cards. This was an exciting moment and it was so great to welcome her as part of our Plum Health team.
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Physician Accepting New Patients in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Physician Accepting New Patients in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Physician Accepting New Patients in Detroit Michigan - she is an excellent physician who delivers excellent care for her patients and the broader community. We are lucky to have her as a part of our service here at Plum Health DPC.
With that being said, she has about 261 patients at this time, and she has garnered that number of patients over the last 1 year. Dr. Rabaut started at our clinic on February 1st, 2021, and through the pandemic, she has gained 261 patients. She takes care of a diverse group of people from many different backgrounds.
Dr. Rabaut will likely cap at 400 to 500 patients so that she can maintain this high level of care, service, and excellence for her patients. Dr. Rabaut will likely reach a full panel in 6 months to 12 months from this time, so if you’re looking for an excellent direct primary care doctor, please sign up to be one of Dr. Rabaut’s patients sooner than later, before her panel is full.
Our patients love Dr. Rabaut and they have given her high praise on our Google Review site. Here’s the most recent review for Dr. Rabaut:
Ohhh, the healthcare system. What an interesting collection of institutions! I wish more places were like Plum Health though. For a couple years, I was stuck with an insurance company that didn't have great PCPs and then had some job changes, which basically made relying upon insurance a complicated process. I remembered Plum Health from Demo Day and decided to reach out.
Absolutely loved the attention that I received from Dr. Rabaut. After having an experience with a PCP who rushed through my appointments and didn't actually listen to what I was saying about my own body, my experience with Plum Health was a breath of fresh air.
Here’s another review for Dr. Rabaut:
I have been Dr. Rabaut's patient for about a year now, and I have to say that she is HANDS DOWN the best doctor I have had. I email her dumb (and not so dumb) questions all the time and she always emails me back right away. Even on a Saturday. She is approachable and honest. When she listens, she is actually listening. I will be lucky if I get to be under her care for a very long time.
And here’s another recent review for Dr. Leslie Rabaut:
I have never had a visit to the doctor like this before. I have always had terrible amxiety going to the doctors. Here I didn't have to wait at all to see the doctor. Dr. Leslie Raubart came in and talked with me for 45 minutes!! (At my last doctor I would be lucky if I got 10 mintues) She was amazing and you can tell she truly cares. She is very good at asking you the right questions and getting all the details. When my blood results came back, she emailed me a very detailed message explaining what supplements and a plan of action for the future. I am so glad to have found this.
In summary, Dr. Leslie Rabaut is an excellent family medicine physician and she is accepting new patients at our Plum Health DPC office in Detroit, Michigan.
Pricing Changes for 2022
Plum Pack!
At this time, we are raising our prices for most of our membership tiers. These pricing changes will go into effect on March 1st, 2022. Our new pricing sets are as follows:
Children, 0 to 17 years of age: $15 per month (an increase of $5/month)
Adults, 18 to 39 years of age: $55 per month (an increase of $6/month)
Older Adults 40 to 64 years of age: $75 per month (an increase of $6/month)
Senior Adults 65 and up: $89 per month (no change)
We had to make this difficult decision because of several factors including the increasing complexity of the services that we deliver at our clinic and the rising costs of necessary supplies and equipment for our business.
For example, pre-pandemic, a box of 200 latex gloves would cost $9.95, now it costs $24.95 for that same box of gloves.
We remain committed to delivering affordable and accessible health care services. These price increases will allow us to continue to deliver excellent care and service.
We appreciate you for being a part of the service, and our unending thanks for being a part of the Plum Pack.
Sincerely,
Drs. Paul Thomas, MD Raquel Orlich, DO and Leslie Rabaut DO
Should you have questions, do not hesitate to call our office at 313.444.5630)
Plum Health DPC Highlighted in the Detroit Free Press
Plum Health DPC Highlighted in the Detroit Free Press
Today, Plum Health DPC was highlighted in an article by the Detroit Free Press. in 2017, we won $50,000 from the Motor City Match program and we used those funds to build out a beautiful, community-facing office in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. This clinic helps us deliver affordable and accessible healthcare services in Detroit and beyond.
It’s hard to measure the impact that we’ve had in the community beyond patients served, money saved on labs, money saved on medications, COVID test run, and COVID vaccines given. But, this article examines economic data and tries to discern if programs that support businesses like ours are worth it. You can read the full article, here.
Special thanks to Chanel Stitt on Twitter: @ByChanelStitt and photographs by Eric Seals with the Detroit Free Press.
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Dr. Paul Thomas at Plum Health in Detroit on Friday, August 27, 2021. Plum Health was a Motor City Match winner of $50,000 in March of 2017 and the direct primary care office located at the new row of businesses at The Corner where Tiger Stadium was and is rapidly growing with over 1,000 patients.
Photo credit to ERIC SEALS, DETROIT FREE PRESS
Dr. Raquel Orlich Celebrates 2 Years with Plum Health DPC
Dr. Raquel Orlich Celebrates 2 Years with Plum Health DPC
As of this month, Dr. Raquel Orlich has been with Plum Health DPC for 2 years!
Dr. Orlich is Board Certified in Family Medicine, Board Certified in Obesity Medicine, and she holds a certification in administering Botox in our clinic (treating wrinkles, TMJ, and migraines).
Beyond her technical skills, Dr. Orlich has built trusting and healing relationships with her patients. She is currently accepting new patients.
Thank you for helping us make health care affordable and accessible in Detroit and beyond!
Welcome Dr. Leslie Rabaut to Plum Health DPC!
Join us as we WElcome Dr. Leslie Rabaut
Join us as we celebrate Dr. Rabaut, as she is an integral part of our Plum Health team!
She joined us in February 2021, but we couldn't have a proper celebration due to the pandemic.
Come out to The Congregation on Thursday as we welcome her to our practice! Our celebration will start at 5:30 pm and go until 7:30 pm. The Congregation is located at 9321 Rosa Parks Blvd, Detroit, MI 48206. There are plenty of food and beverage options - coffee, water, sodas, tea, wine, beer, cocktails, etc… as well as sandwiches, salads, and snacks. Full menu is here.
No need to RSVP, we’ll see you there!
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
More about dr. Leslie Rabaut
Leslie Rabaut, DO, is a board certified family medicine physician in Detroit. She practices high quality care that is individualized to each patient. Her interests include functional medicine, preventative medicine, and integrative therapies that work with a patient’s natural physiology to encourage healing. She enjoys working with patients on lifestyle factors that impact health and disease, such as stress, sleep, physical activity, nutrition, and social relationships. She believes in working together with patients as a team to help them achieve their personal health goals. Dr. Rabaut is fluent in Spanish and English.
Map for The Congregation Detroit for our celebration with Dr. Leslie Rabaut on Thursday June 24th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
Raquel Orlich DO is a Detroit Doctor who is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine
Raquel Orlich DO is a Detroit Doctor who is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine
Dr. Raquel Orlich is Board Certified in Family Medicine and she is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine. Dr. Orlich helps people in our practice lose weight and keep it off with an evidence-based approach. This is just another way that we're making comprehensive health care affordable and accessible at Plum Health DPC.
Dr. Raquel Orlich is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine and Family Medicine. She helps patients lose weight via an evidence-based approach to care.
Rates of Obesity in Detroit
The rate of Obesity in Detroit is 38%, that means that more than 1 in 3 Detroiters are Obese. The rate of Obesity in the State of Michigan is high as well, and it leads to early heart attacks and strokes, as well as an increase in the risk of diabetes. Here’s some striking findings from a recent report from the Michigan Department of Community Health:
Michigan had the 8th highest prevalence rate of obesity in the United States in 2008.
In 2008, 65.3% of Michigan adults were either overweight or obese; 35.2% were overweight and an additional 30.1% were obese.
Blacks had a significantly higher obesity rate (39.8%) than whites (28.8%).
Obese adults had a higher prevalence of arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart attack, diabetes and inadequate sleep compared with non-obese adults.
Obese adults also reported the highest prevalence of poor life satisfaction, poor general health, poor physical health, poor mental health and activity limitations compared with non-obese adults.
This is why it’s so important to take an evidence-based approach to weight loss via healthy eating and healthy exercising. If we continue to grow heavier as a society and as a community, the weight-related comorbidities will cause big problems for our overall health - physical, psychological, and emotional.
If you’d like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Raquel Orlich, you can do so here.
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
Three Excellent Family Physicians in Detroit Michigan Accepting New Patients
Detroit Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Paul Thomas MD, Raquel Orlich DO, and Leslie Rabaut DO are family medicine doctors accepting new patients in Detroit, Michigan. Their practice is called Plum Health and they see patients using a membership model for health care. Patients pay a low monthly fee to be a part of Plum Health, and with that membership, receive excellent primary care services.
Patients can come into the office whenever they want to be seen - we guarantee a same-day or next-day appointment for our Plum Health members. We also offer easy communication, with phone calls, text message, and email access to the doctors.
To see what all the buzz is about, you can enroll yourself, your family, or your small business into the Plum Health service via this link.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week!
The Doctors at Plum Health DPC are Raquel Orlich DO, Paul Thomas MD, and Leslie Rabaut DO. They are all board certified family medicine physicians and they are all accepting new patients.
Connect with Dr. Paul Thomas on LinkedIn
If you’d like to connect with Dr. Paul Thomas on LinkedIn, follow this link:
Dr. Leslie Rabaut of Plum Health DPC is also an Artist
Dr. Leslie Rabaut, Physician and Artist
Some doctors have a creative streak and Dr. Leslie Rabaut has a fantastic talent for painting. She has been engaging in art and the fine arts since a young age, and she recently entered a painting competition via the Grosse Pointe News. Here’s her entry:
Artwork by Dr. Leslie Rabaut, entitled “Entranced by the Michigan Woods”
When asked about her broad color palette in her works, she says “My paintings are an expression of how beautiful nature can be if we are truly looking.” The art work is on display at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial at this time, from May 6th to June 3rd, 2 pm to 6:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
From her Facebook page:
Hey guys..so funny thing but I somehow found my way into the Grosse Pointe News art contest.
If you are a subscriber to the Grosse Pointe News, please show some love and throw me a vote! Apparently you can also sign up for a 1 week subscription and vote (how deep is our friendship? lol)
Vote online at :
www.grossepointenews.com/art/vote
Voting ends online This Saturday May 15th!
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Doctor in Detroit Michigan
Leslie Rabaut, DO, is a board certified family medicine physician in Detroit. She practices high quality care that is individualized to each patient. Her interests include functional medicine, preventative medicine, and integrative therapies that work with a patient’s natural physiology to encourage healing. She enjoys working with patients on lifestyle factors that impact health and disease, such as stress, sleep, physical activity, nutrition, and social relationships. She believes in working together with patients as a team to help them achieve their personal health goals. Dr. Rabaut is fluent in Spanish and English.
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a board certified family medicine doctor in Detroit, Michigan. She works in Corktown at Plum Health DPC.
Thanks for reading and have a great day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Coronavirus Vaccines in Pregnancy
The Coronavirus Vaccines are Safe and Effective in Pregnancy
First, I want to say that the coronavirus vaccines are safe and effective in pregnancy. There’s a great research article from the New England Journal of Medicine followed over 35,000 pregnant women and revealed the following, “Preliminary findings did not show obvious safety signals among pregnant persons who received mRNA Covid-19 vaccines.”
In this video, I talk with a mom who was in the process of deciding whether or not to get the coronavirus vaccine, but ultimately decided to get vaccinated. We talk about the pros and cons of the vaccine, the difference between the Johnson and Johnson Vaccine and the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the risk of getting a fever during pregnancy after getting the coronavirus vaccine, and many other topics.
The Vaccine Confers Immunity to Your Growing Baby
If you’re a pregnant mother and you receive the coronavirus vaccine, your body will produce antibodies and those antibodies will go from your body, to your placenta, to the baby’s body and protect the baby from Coronavirus. You will also share antibodies with your baby after birth via breast milk.
From the Harvard Gazette:
In the largest study of its kind to date, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard have found the new mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to be highly effective in producing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in pregnant and lactating women. The study also demonstrated the vaccines confer protective immunity to newborns through breast milk and the placenta.
Coronavirus Vaccine and Fever in Pregnancy
Getting the coronavirus vaccine during pregnancy may cause a fever, however, this is not very likely and the fever after vaccination is of short duration and unlikely to cause any damage to the growing baby or fetus. From Harvard Health:
One possible side effect of the COVID-19 vaccines is fever a day or two after vaccination. This occurred in about
1% to 3% of people after the first dose of mRNA vaccine
15% to 17% after the second dose of mRNA vaccine
9% after the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine.
These fevers are generally low and can be managed with acetaminophen, which is safe to take during pregnancy. Rarely, high, prolonged fevers in pregnancy may lead to birth defects.
Thanks for reading and have a great day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Why Have a Membership with Plum Health DPC
Why Have a Membership with Plum Health DPC?
Plum Health DPC is a relatively new business - we’ve been operating for the last 4.5 years - so we understand that people have questions about Plum Health and direct primary care in general. A lot of people ask us why they should sign up for this different kind of health care model.
Our patients choose our service at Plum Health for several reasons, but one of the biggest reasons why people trust us with their health care is because of reachability and communication. In short, we respond to our patients right away when they reach out to us via text, phone calls, or emails.
When you’re a member of Plum Health, you have timely, clear, and consistent communication with your doctor.
We recently reached 90 + five star reviews on Google for our business, and we analyzed the data. Three main categories of responses stood out: Reachability & Communication, Cost, and Wait Times. While affordable healthcare is a trend during this decade, the results show that 'Reachability & Communication' is the most appreciated benefit for our patients.
A staggering 72% of the reviews left by our patients included a comment in this Reachability & Communication category. Affordable pricing is our 2nd highest rated benefit in the practice according to our patients.
More than 40% of our patients included affordable pricing in their review of our clinic. Another 32% of those reviews included positive remarks about wait times.
While these are the most frequently mentioned benefits of a Plum Health DPC membership in terms of our google reviews, there are several other reasons to join! Find out more, here.
Thanks for reading and have a great day,
- Dr. Paul Thomas MD with Plum Health DPC
Reaching out to Young People with the Coronavirus Vaccine
How to Reach Young People with the Coronavirus Vaccine
Presently, young adults have a wait-and-see mentality when it comes to the coronavirus vaccination. According to Kaiser Health News, young adults, ages 18-29, were most likely to be in this “wait and see” group, at 25% of respondents.
One young adult trying to change this wait-and-see attitude among her peers is Christina Zerka, an undergraduate/pre-medical student at the University of Michigan.
She started a campaign called Save Summer 2021, through which she advocates for vaccine acceptance among young people, with the goal of returning to fun and engaging public events, like concerts, once herd immunity is reached.
The Save Summer 2021 campaign can be found on Instagram, YouTube, and their own website.
In this interview, we talk about the Save Summer 2021 campaign and how we can make sure that all groups within our country have access to the best information around coronavirus and the vaccine.
Thanks for reading and have a great day,
- Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Coronavirus and Misleading Headlines for April 7th 2021
I've been reading too many misleading headlines in the Detroit Media landscape recently and I'm frustrated by this misinformation.
Media companies can present information in certain ways, and the way that this information is presented makes a difference for public perceptions, especially around coronavirus vaccine efficacy.
The headline I'm talking about is this one that I saw circulated on several news media outlets: "246 fully vaccinated Michiganders got COVID-19 between January and March, state reports"
This information is true, but it misleads the public into thinking that the coronavirus vaccines are not safe and effective.
The media organizations neglected the greater context in their initial reporting, failing to state clearly that 1,700,000 Michigan residents have been vaccinated and only 246 of those have become ill with Covid-19.
If I were to re-write this headline, it would say: "99.99% of vaccine recipients in Michigan have not become ill with Covid-19"
This speaks clearly to the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
Additionally, some media outlets also reported that 3 fully vaccinated Michiganders have died after being fully vaccinated.
This is true, but again misleading.
When taken in the greater context of 1,700,000 (or 1.7 million) fully vaccinated Michiganders, that means that only 0.00017% of those fully vaccinated Michiganders have died from coronavirus.
That means that 99.9999% of those who have achieved full vaccination have NOT died from the coronavirus.
Further, these media organizations did not fully discuss the cases and left out pertinent details.
I would like to know, and these media outlets should report:
- How old were the people who got sick?
- Did these people have pre-existing conditions?
- Were these people taking medications that would suppress an immune response, like steroids or drugs for auto-immune conditions?
- Did these patients have HIV/AIDS or another condition that suppresses normal immune functioning?
- Did these patients die from COVID or were their deaths due to another cause, such as heart attacks, strokes, etc…?
My biggest fear is that people who are opposed to vaccinations will use these misleading headlines as "evidence" that the vaccines don't work, when, in fact, these vaccines are safe and effective.
Thanks for reading, and reach out to your City or County health department to get the vaccine.
If you live in the City of Detroit:
- Call: 313-230-0505
- Monday-Friday from 9 am until 6 pm.
- Any resident of the City of Detroit who is age 16+.
- Any person who works in the City of Detroit whose job requires them to work from their job site.
- There will be no cost to individuals for the COVID-19 vaccination.
Thanks again,
- Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Distribute the Johnson and Johnson Coronavirus Vaccine to Doctors
Pull up a chair, have a seat, and grab the newspaper 📰 our Opinion is in the Detroit News!
We believe that healthcare should be affordable and accessible, and part of that includes making sure that the vaccine 💉 is available at primary care offices across the city and region.
You see, people have a high degree of trust in their doctors 🥼 so let us help educate and vaccinate, but we need the vaccine on hand to make this work.
Just about every day this week, a different patient has asked me when they’ll be able to get the vaccine from our office. Our patients are used to getting vaccinated here in our Plum Health DPC clinic -we vaccinate folks every day to prevent the flu, shingles, cervical cancer, hepatitis, and more. Our patients come to expect that they can get the vaccine from our clinic, any vaccine.
So you can imagine their surprise when we tell them that we don’t have the vaccine on hand.
You can read our full opinion on the Detroit News, here.
Special thanks to David Wright, medical student at Wayne State University School of Medicine for helping me write this article.
Paul Thomas MD in the Conference Room with Mark S Lee
Today I’ll be in the Conference Room with Mark S Lee. Here’s what he posted on his LinkedIn:
This week “In the Conference Room”, we welcome Dana C. Harvey, MBA, Paul Thomas, M.D. and Wayne Handmarsh.
Topics include entrepreneurial challenges during COVID, medical challenges in diverse segments and and senior care services.
You can join the conversation, Sunday, 11 am, EDT, by calling (313) 778-7600. You can also stream via the station’s FB Live, iHeart Radio or the station’s app (click on “Watch Live”).
And don’t forget to Spring Forward this weekend!
I’ve known Mark for the last 4 years as he was one of the first journalists to cover me and my journey with Plum Health DPC. He wrote an excellent article about us in Crain’s Detroit Business back in March 2017, and that was a tremendous boost for our business and our brand.
Mark’s program today starts at 11 am on 910 am Superstation (you can watch or listen live, here) and we’ll be featured at the noon hour. Please join us!
MORE ABOUT PLUM HEALTH DPC
At Plum Health, we believe that health care should be affordable and accessible for everyone. Members of the practice can call, text, or email the doctor anytime they need health care services. We guarantee same-day/next-day appointments. Additionally, patients have access to wholesale medications, at-cost imaging services, and at-cost lab work. Plum Health began in November 2016 with 8 patients, and now has 975 active patients, spanning in age from 4 months to 101 years of age. Our vision is to provide the best healthcare experience in Detroit and beyond.
-Paul Thomas MD with Plum Health DPC
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.
Plum Health DPC Welcomes Dr. Leslie Rabaut to the Detroit Office
Plum Health in Detroit adds a Spanish-speaking primary care physician
Detroit, Michigan, March 8th, 2021 - Plum Health DPC is pleased to announce that they have expanded access to primary care resources in Metro Detroit by hiring a fourth physician who is fluent in Spanish and English, Dr. Leslie Rabaut, DO.
We are excited to announce that Dr. Leslie Rabaut has joined our service at Plum Health DPC. She is a family medicine physician and she is accepting new patients.
Plum Health hired a fourth doctor because of the increasing demand for Plum Health’s services and the desire to be more easily accessible to patients of diverse backgrounds throughout Metro Detroit.
As we grow our practice, we aim to work with intention to serve our local community better. Adding a bilingual doctor is one of those steps.
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is passionate about forming strong relationships with her patients and is fluent in medical Spanish. Her clinical interests include functional medicine, preventative medicine, and integrative therapies that work with a patient’s natural physiology to encourage healing.
Dr. Rabaut is a graduate of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency training at Aurora St. Luke’s Family Medicine Residency in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is excited about expanding access to primary care in Metro Detroit.
“I chose direct primary care so that I could have the time to get to know each of my patients as a unique individual which allows me to tailor my treatment to provide truly patient-centered care,” said Dr. Rabaut.
"We believe that healthcare should be affordable and accessible for everyone, that’s why we’re hiring another excellent physician who is bilingual – to expand access to care," says Dr. Paul Thomas, who for the last four-and-a-half years, has been serving residents in Detroit and beyond from Plum Health's Corktown office.
There are currently 960 members in the practice who are cared for by Drs. Paul Thomas, Raquel Orlich, and Jamie Qualls. Dr. Leslie Rabaut’s arrival will allow Plum Health to care for an additional 500 patients.
Direct primary care (DPC) physicians do not bill or use insurance. They provide their patients with steeply discounted medications, labs, imaging services, and procedures. The DPC model allows patients to have a direct relationship with their primary care physician by enrolling in an affordable subscription-based service, costing between $10 and $89 per month.
Plum Health doctors are available to patients not just in our offices, but by phone, text message, or video call. This connectivity makes getting care even more convenient for their patients.
Plum Health DPC currently operates two thriving locations in Corktown Detroit and Farmington Hills with doctors Paul Thomas, MD, Raquel Orlich, DO, and Jamie Qualls DO, MPH.
Dr. Leslie Rabaut will be practicing out of Plum Health’s Corktown Detroit office located at 1620 Michigan Avenue, Suite 125, Detroit, MI 48216.
Media Contact
Dr. Paul Thomas, MD
Founder & Physician
Plum Health DPC
(313) 444 - 5630
More about Plum Health DPC
At Plum Health, we believe that health care should be affordable and accessible for everyone. Members of the practice can call, text, or email the doctor anytime they need health care services. We guarantee same-day/next-day appointments. Additionally, patients have access to wholesale medications, at-cost imaging services, and at-cost lab work. Plum Health began in November 2016 with 8 patients, and now has 960 active patients, spanning in age from 4 months to 101 years of age. Our vision is to provide the best healthcare experience in Detroit and beyond.
Paul Thomas MD, Jamie Qualls DO, Chris Lake, Raquel Orlich DO, and Leslie Rabaut DO at Plum Health DPC in Detroit, Michigan.
More about Paul Thomas, MD and Leslie Rabaut, DO
Dr. Paul Thomas is a board-certified family medicine physician practicing in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. His practice is Plum Health DPC, a Direct Primary Care service that is the first of its kind in Detroit and Wayne County. His mission is to deliver affordable, accessible health care services in Detroit and beyond. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine. He served as Chief Resident at Oakwood Family Medicine Residency Program. He has been featured on WDIV-TV Channel 4, WXYZ Channel 7, Crain's Detroit Business and CBS Radio. He has been a speaker at TEDxDetroit and is an author of the book Direct Primary Care: The Cure for Our Broken Healthcare System.
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a board-certified family medicine physician in Detroit. She practices high quality care that is individualized to each patient. Her interests include functional medicine, preventative medicine, and integrative therapies that work with a patient’s natural physiology to encourage healing. She enjoys working with patients on lifestyle factors that impact health and disease, such as stress, sleep, physical activity, nutrition, and social relationships. She believes in working together with patients as a team to help them achieve their personal health goals. Dr. Rabaut is fluent in Spanish and English.
More about Direct Primary Care
The direct primary care (DPC) model gives family physicians a meaningful alternative to fee-for-service insurance billing, typically by charging patients a monthly, quarterly, or annual fee (i.e., a retainer) that covers all or most primary care services including clinical, laboratory, and consultative services, and care coordination and comprehensive care management. Because some services are not covered by a retainer, DPC practices often suggest that patients acquire a high-deductible wraparound policy to cover emergencies.
Direct primary care benefits patients by providing substantial savings and a greater degree of access to, and time with, physicians.
Taken from the American Academy of Family Physicians website: