Pertussis Cases on the Rise

This month, I received an update from the Michigan Health Alert Network. In it, they describe how pertussis activity has increased in Michigan since late fall 2016. The increase has been mostly in kids age 4 or younger who haven't had their full set of DTaP vaccinations who are in daycare settings.

Pertussis is also known as the "whooping cough" because of the classic inspiratory pattern that kids show when they take a deep breath between fits of coughing. Pertussis is also called the "100 day cough" because it goes through several phases with active coughing lasting for several weeks. In those children who have been partially vaccinated, that classic whoop may be absent. 

Appropriate testing includes culture or PCR of nasopharyngeal (NP) aspirate or swab (polyester tip). The Michigan Health Alert Network recommends reporting positive case to local public health departments. Appropriate treatment is with a 5-day course of azithromycin; other choices include 7 days clarithromycin or 14 days erythromycin; an alternative is 14 days of TMP-SMZ. 

Importantly, close contacts who are un-immunized or under-immunized should get the pertussis vaccination! This includes off-label use of Tdap in children 7 through 10 years of age who did not complete the DTaP series. A pertussis vaccine booster dose (Tdap) is recommended for adolescents and adults, and is especially important for those in contact with infants.  Current recommendations call for a single lifetime Tdap booster dose with the following exception: a dose of Tdap is recommended for pregnant females in each pregnancy between weeks 27 and 36.  Comprehensive pertussis information is available at www.cdc.gov/pertussis

If you need to get updated with your TDaP vaccine, we have that in stock at our Plum Health DPC office. It costs $47.47 at wholesale, and that's what we give it to you for, no mark up. 

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!

- Paul Thomas, MD

Medical Equity Conference

Yesterday, I attended the Inaugural Health Equity Research Conference at Wayne State University. It was held in the student center and brought together several stakeholders in Detroit. The day began with several excellent presentations from undergraduate students and medical residents, ranging from Sickle Cell Anemia to Hearing Aids and Alopecia related to Chemotherapy.

After, a panel was held that brought together some thought leaders in the public health sphere, including:

• Dr. James Blessman, who spoke about the Citizenship Report card and the importance of eating more healthy foods, as in the Nutritarian Diet. 
• Dr. Michele Cote, of the Karmanos Cancer institute who spoke about Lung Cancer screening 
• Dr. Wassim Tarraf who discussed being a statistic himself, as an immigrant and adopting some of the unhealthy practices of living in America, like an unhealthy diet. 
• Dr. Dawn Misra - of the Wayne State University Department of Family Medicine and Public Health who has an interest in perinatal health disparities. 
• Julie Comstock-Gleason, who spoke about the importance of community health and community health workers as experts who know the community well. Currently, she's working on a project about heart health by building community health awareness groups and asking individuals to write themselves letters about what it means to be heart healthy. 
• Dr. Phillip Levy is an emergency medicine physician at Henry Ford hospital and he discussed transformative moments in his career while taking care of patients in the emergency department at Lincoln Hospital. One of his quotes that stuck with me is when he referenced Roemer's law, or the idea that in an insured population, a hospital bed built is a filled bed. This means that whenever we as a community decide to build a hospital bed, it will not sit empty. This lead to further commentary about treating people who are ill rather than taking care of people so they remain healthy. 
• Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, formerly of the City of Detroit Health Department, now making a run for Governor of Michigan had the audience repeat the definition of Public Health. Public Health is what we as a society do together to create healthy conditions. He also discussed how resources that keep people healthy are not evenly distributed. He noted that 40% of Detroiters don't have reliable access to transportation, creating an environment where people are not able to access basic services or meet their basic needs. 
• Dr. Kim Jaffee of the School of Social work at Wayne State University discussed a pregnancy and nutrition surveillance system. Her team looks at the macro factors that affect pregnant women. She also is interested in low birthweight babies and the disparities in infant mortality rates between different communities. She is now examining the health disparities in the transgender community. One statement that she made that stuck with me is that Transgender patients who have to teach their doctor about who they are and what it means to be transgender are 3x's less likely to access care when they need it. 

Health Equity is a big reason why we do what we do at Plum Health. We lower the barriers to excellent primary care services by making healthcare more affordable. We lower the costs of medications and lab testing by delivering these services at cost, saving our patients thousands of dollars each year. If more primary care doctors are able to practice in this Direct Primary Care model, we could truly make healthcare more affordable and accessible for all people. 

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day,

- Paul Thomas, MD

Ice Skating at Clark Park

This week I was able to ice skate at Clark Park in Southwest Detroit. First, ice skating is a fun, enjoyable activity for the winter months in Detroit and Michigan. Many families are able to stamp down enough snow and construct a wooden border, flood the area and allow it to freeze. These back yard rinks are the stuff of memory and family lore, but it's nice to have a community rink that is open to all. 

Second, 60 minutes of activity each day can increase our physical and emotional wellness. Children especially need to be active and create habits of activity and exercise that will help them maintain a healthy weight and avoid chronic diseases as they age. Here's some key stats:

• Children now spend more than seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen (e.g., TV, videogames, computer).
• Only about one in five homes have parks within a half-mile, and about the same number have a fitness or recreation center within that distance.
• Nearly one-third of high school students play video or computer games for 3 or more hours on an average school day.

If you want to learn more facts and stats about healthy activity patterns, hit this site: https://www.fitness.gov/resource-center/facts-and-statistics/ 

Third, I was able to mentor some neighborhood kids and help them with their skating, passing, and shooting. It's always great to help kids build confidence in their abilities, and this was a nice opportunity to work with a group of kids in the neighborhood.

The ice rink at Clark Park is run by the Clark Park Coalition. If you want to learn more about what they do, or donate to their ongoing programming, hit their link! http://www.clarkparkdetroit.com/ 

Thanks for reading!

- Paul Thomas, MD

Vaccine Finder

Recently, I wrote a blog post about getting your flu shot! #GetYourFluShot And when I was reading articles on the CDC website, I came across Vaccine Finder. Vaccine Finder is a nifty online resource that allows you to enter your zip code to find the nearest clinic or pharmacy that dispenses vaccines.

It lists the basics like the address, phone, hours of operation and website. In addition, as the clinic or pharmacy owner, you can enter in the price of the vaccines that you dispense. As a Direct Primary Care clinic with transparent pricing, we did just that! You can see that our Influenza Vaccine costs $10.53, our Hepatitis A vaccine costs $68.42, and our TDaP vaccine costs $47.47. 

Another cool feature is that you can use the website to hail an Uber to get you to the vaccine dispensing location! 

FYI, we're in Corktown/Southwest Detroit, and if you enter in our zip code (48216), we will be the #1 result! 

Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful day, and #GetYourFluShot,

- Paul Thomas, MD

MedHealth Summit at TechTown

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the MedHealth Summit at TechTown. It was a great event that brought together healthcare organizations and innovators. Their aim was to catalyze the development of solutions and adoption of technologies that use health IT, digital platforms, and medical devices to solve key healthcare challenges in SE Michigan and Southwest Ontario.

This was a great event in that it encouraged cross-border collaboration, something that we don't have enough of in the Healthcare industry. The summit also served as a platform for collaboration and facilitated an environment conducive to networking with colleagues working on innovative ideas in this space. 

The event concluded with a pitch competition for those creating scaleable, pre-market platforms and devices. The winner was Rob Zondervan and his company created SteriDev, a pre-market piece of medical equipment that allows doctors and surgeons to take their iPhones into a sterile operating room.

SteriDev won $10,000 in grant money via the pitch competition and they plan on making the product in Michigan. This device would definitely be useful for taking photos of intra-operative findings for orthopedic surgeons and interventional radiologists, and they have a reasonably-sized market to pursue.  

A special thanks to Paul Riser and his team of collaborators for setting everything up and creating a great event!

Thanks for reading and have a great day,

Paul Thomas, MD

Flu Cases Increasing

You need a flu shot. I will say it again, you need a flu shot. Flu cases are on the rise currently, see this article from the CDC. Yes, the flu most commonly affects the very young and the very old, but each year young adults are hospitalized and die because of the influenza virus. I'm writing today to dispel some myths and tell you that you can be a part of the solution.

As a part of routine care at Plum Health, I offer a flu shot to all of my members. It costs $10.53 because I buy it at wholesale and I don't mark up the cost. Inevitably, objections are raised by my patients. The most common being "I've never had the flu, so I don't see the point in getting the vaccine" or "I seem to get the flu after I get the flu shot". 

First of all, the vaccine strain produced this year is a particularly good one. The composition of U.S. flu vaccines is reviewed annually and updated to match circulating flu viruses. Flu vaccines protect against the three or four viruses that research suggests will be most common. For 2016-2017, three-component vaccines are recommended to contain:

• A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus,
• A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus and a
• B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus (B/Victoria lineage).

Second, you can't get the flu from getting the influenza vaccine. When you get a flu shot (influenza vaccine), I inject inactivated viral particles, not the virus itself. By giving you inactive viral particles or proteins from the virus, your body's immune system is able to recognize these as foreign and mount an immune response. During that immune response, you may have a slight temperature and you may feel tired and your body shifts it's energy to meet your immune system's needs, but you will not get "the flu" because you don't have the whole virus. 

Because you get the flu shot, your body will recognize the actual virus should you get it. When your body sees the proteins that make up the virus, it will mount an even stronger immune response, killing the virus more quickly and keeping you out of the hospital.

Common places to pick up the flu virus include door knobs, the treadmill at the gym, the grocery store key pad, the gas pump, etc... You can't possibly disinfect all of these surfaces, so just do yourself a favor, be proactive and get the flu shot.

Importantly, influenza activity most commonly peaks in the United States between December and March. Additionally, the flu season can last until May. 

I say that you can be a part of the solution because you can prevent the spread of the flu. One, get the flu shot. If you happen to get the virus, it will be easier for your immune system to fight it and you will be less likely to pass it on to your loved ones. Even if you're "fine" without it, your grand parents, parents, children, nieces, and nephews may not. So, by protecting yourself, you can protect them.

Finally, wash your hands well! This is probably one of the best things that you can do to prevent the spread of germs, viruses, and bacteria. 

Thanks for reading and have a great day,

- Paul Thomas, MD

Our Influenza Vaccine stock at Plum Health DPC, a Family Medicine Practice at 1759 West 21st Street, Detroit, MI 48216. 

Revisiting our Values

I recently had to fill out a form about Plum Health DPC for an upcoming event. When I was filling it out, it helped me clarify the aims of the practice and the mission of Plum Health. It seems appropriate to share it here: 

I am a Doctor and I started Plum Health DPC, the only private Family Medicine practice in Corktown and the only Direct Primary Care practice in Detroit and Wayne County. Plum Health delivers affordable, accessible healthcare services in Detroit and beyond. I'm passionate about creating a healthier community, and I accomplish this by taking care of individuals, teaching groups, and supporting strategic initiatives that will elevate healthy opportunities in the city and beyond.

I am driven to address the health disparities and access to care issues that are faced by Detroiters. There are only 50 - 100 primary care docs in the city for 683,000 people. That is 1 doc for every 6,000 - 12,000 people which is horribly underserved. Part of my mission is to inspire medical students to choose primary care and family medicine as a career, using the Direct Primary Care model as a vehicle for this inspiration. 

Thanks for reading, and have a great week,

- Paul Thomas, MD

Volunteering at Cass Clinic

Volunteering in the community is an important part of what I do as a doctor. I enjoy helping medical students learn the basics of primary care and serving the community in this way.

This week, I'm at Cass Clinic for their Saturday Morning clinic. It's in Detroit's Midtown Neighborhood and they serve people without insurance, who are homeless, living in drug rehab centers or otherwise vulnerable.

I am grateful that the Wayne State University Medical Students continue to care for the community in this way as they run this clinic without much outside help. If you want to donate medication, bathroom supplies, or hats, gloves, and socks, there's a donation link on their webpage - www.cassclinic.com.

Additionally, I volunteer at the Student Run Free Clinic on the East Side of Detroit at 5555 Connor Ave, just south of I-94. I volunteer at the SRFC once a month and at Cass Clinic about once a month as well. 

I have been volunteering at the Cass Clinic since about age 17. I grew up attending a Methodist church and I was looking for unique volunteer opportunities. I came across the Cass Clinic as it is a part of the Cass Community Social Services, which is a Methodist organization. When I started volunteering, I worked with Medical Students at WSU SOM as they took care of patients in this setting. Watching these young medical students was an inspiration, and from that point on knew which medical I wanted to attend - Wayne State! 

In Detroit, just like in many communities, the needs are great. I know that a few half days a month will not save the world, but these small actions do make a big difference in the lives of the patients that we serve. 

Thanks so much for reading and watching!

- Paul Thomas, MD

February Update

Hey everybody! It's February 2nd and time for an update about our services and a little bit of an overview about what we do. January was our first full month of operation in a brick-and-mortar space and we were able to have 20 new members join the practice! We are currently located at 1759 West 21st Street, Detroit, MI.

What makes them want to join? First it's our dedication to great service. When you make an appointment, you typically get 1 hour of uninterrupted time with me, Dr. Paul Thomas. We talk about your medical history, review any records that you bring, perform a physical exam, draw any blood samples if necessary and give any medications if necessary.

The great thing about our Direct Primary Care model is that we get these labs at-cost and the medications at whole-sale prices. Our lipid panel is about $7 and our Comprehensive Metabolic Panel is about $4. Our current price for Azithromycin or a "Z-pak" is $1.15. We sell Lisinopril for about $0.40/month. Yes, you read that correctly! Forty cents for a one month supply of Lisinopril. 

I give Flu shots for $10.53, Hepatitis A vaccine for $68.42, Tetanus Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis (TDaP) vaccine for $47.47. Our price for Metformin is $0.40/month if you take 1 pill each day and $0.80/month if you take 2 pills each day. I recently dispensed Augmentin for a skin infection for $4.82. 

If you're interested in this type of care: more time with your doctor, clear and consistent pricing, the ability to have easier communication with your doctor via text and email, you should sign up for our services.

You can either call 313.444.5630 to set up an appointment or enroll on our website, here.

Thank you for watching and reading, and have a great day!

- Paul Thomas, MD

An Interview with Dr. James Blessman

Today, I attended the monthly Wayne County Medical Society meeting. There were several topics discussed and my mentor Dr. James Blessman brought up an upcoming lecture. Dr. Joel Fuhrman will be at the Detroit School of Arts on February 2nd, 2017 at 6 pm (doors at 5 pm). There's more information at this link. Full video of the interview is below!

During the meeting at the Wayne County Medical Society of Southeast Michigan, several topics were discussed. Currently, the Detroit Public School system stresses abstinence first in their curriculum. This does not mean that the DPS teaches abstinence only, so a group of Medical Students from Wayne State University School of Medicine came to the meeting to clarify the curriculum and obtain the Medical Society's support. 

Additionally, the Medical Society discussed burnout and health habits among physicians, the recent increase in Hepatitis A cases in Wayne County, and the recent publication of a Human Trafficking Awareness video. As for the Hepatitis A, you can receive a shot for $10 via the Wayne County Health Department in Wayne, Michigan. At Plum Health, we wholesale the Hepatitis Vaccine for about $70 and in the insurance world, coverage varies depending on which private insurance company you use.

Dr. Blessman also brought up Joel Fuhrman, MD and his upcoming lecture at the Detroit School of Arts on 123 Selden Street in Midtown. The event will be held on February 2nd at 6 pm. Dr. Fuhrman is a leading thinker in the area of medical nutrition, with several best-selling books on the subject. He has been noted to say that the foods that you should eat include the "GBOMBS", or Greens, Beans, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries, and Seeds. The main point is that you want to have more micronutrients in the foods that you consume. 

Thanks for reading, and watch the video below!

- Paul Thomas, MD

Plum Health + Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency can be a big problem in the winter months, especially if you live up in Michigan! At Plum Health, we delivery direct primary care services, meaning that we can get you wholesale medications and at-cost laboratory services, including Vitamin D Levels and Vitamin D supplements.

You should have a vitamin D level of 20 - 50 ng/mL - some experts in the field recommend 20 - 40 ng/mL as the appropriate range, others recommend 30 - 50 ng/mL as the best range. However, experts agree that a Vitamin D level of less than 20 ng/mL can lead to problems with skeletal health. 

Having a sub-optimal vitamin D level can lead to osteoporosis, an increased risk of falls and possible fractures. Additionally, having a low vitamin D level can put you at risk for immune problems and cardiovascular problems. 

We make vitamin D in our skin, and this production is aided by sunlight. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) noted that "humans typically obtain 90 percent of vitamin D from sunlight".  Unfortunately, because of low sunlight levels in the winter, our Vitamin D production ceases in temperate areas like Detroit, Edmonton, and Boston.

Furthermore, you are at an increased risk of having low vitamin D levels if you are sedentary, if you have dark skin, if you are obese, if you are over 65 years of age, or if you take medications that alter Vitamin D metabolism, like steroids or seizure medications. 

So, unless you are a young, active snowbird, it is wise to take a vitamin D supplement to offset your lost productivity in the winter months. According to the AAFP, a 3.5 ounce piece of fresh, wild-caught salmon has roughly 600 - 1,000 international units of vitamin D. Other sources of dietary vitamin D include tuna with 230 IU's for every 3.6 ounces consumed and milk at 100 IU's for every 8 ounces consumed. 

If you'd rather get your vitamin D in pill form, Vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol comes in doses of 400, 800, 1,000 or 2,000 IU's. These can be purchased over the counter, but it is best to talk to your primary care doctor before deciding on which dose is appropriate for you.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Paul Thomas, MD, Family Medicine doctor in Detroit, Michigan 

Plum Health + Free Market Principles

At Plum Health, we leverage free market principles to deliver affordable, accessible healthcare services. We do this by using cash to purchase medications at wholesale prices. We also work with imaging service centers for at-cost imaging and lab companies for at-cost labs. 

Because we pay cash for these services, they cost less. These services are often 80 - 90% less expensive than using your insurance to purchase the same exact services. 

I like to use the auto insurance analogy to clarify this principle. Typically, you use your auto insurance to repair your car in the case of an accident. You don't call your auto insurance provider when you need to rotate your tires, change your oil, or put gas in your car. You buy these services on the free market because you can shop around and find the best prices.

If you did use your auto insurance to pay for oil, gas, and tire rotation, you would not only pay more for your insurance policy, but the prices for these individual services would increase because of the middle men that have to handle your money. 

Similarly, the health care services provided by a primary care doctor (like me!) are relatively inexpensive. Like it costs next to nothing to check a blood pressure, listen to your heart and lungs, and fill a prescription. So I make the prices of our services transparent so that you understand exactly what you're getting and exactly how much you will be paying for those services.

Because you now have a known cost for the services that we provide, you can shop around, price compare and decide for yourself what makes the most sense for you. For example, let's say you need that MRI of the Cervical Spine. With Plum Health, you can decide if it's better to pay with cash or to use your insurance.

Just this week we ordered an MRI of the Cervical Spine for one of our members. About 4 years ago, he paid $2,000 for this MRI of the C-Spine. Through our contract with a local imaging company, we are able to deliver the same test for about $363. 

To further this example, let's say your insurance coverage is 80/20 for services, meaning that your insurance pays 80% of the cost and you pay 20% of the cost. If you buy that MRI via your insurance company for $2,000, they will pick up 80% of the cost, or $1,600, and you will have to pay the remaining 20% of the cost, or $400. If you go this route, you may have just overpaid by $37.

That may not be a lot to overpay, but for families on a tight budget, every dollar makes a difference. We like to say that we can show you the true value of your health care dollar, and it's important for us to save you money for your health care services. When I took the Hippocratic Oath to become a doctor, I said "First do no harm", and I take that to mean financial harm as well. 

If you'd like to learn more about how we use our free market principles to save you money on your healthcare services, don't hesitate to call me at 313.444.5630. 

Also, this clip is taken from a longer interview that we did with PodBros! Check out their website and rate them on iTunes! 

Thanks for reading!

- Paul Thomas, MD 

Plum Health + PodBros

Last night, I was interviewed by John of the PodBros Network. It was a great way to talk about Plum Health and get the message out to his network and listeners. We discussed a wide range of topics from mentorship, to medical school, to residency, to what I'm doing with Plum Health. 

I enjoy the shows on PodBros because it gives me a glimpse into the life of other professionals, like what it's like to be a chef or work in a commercial kitchen. You can listen to other PodBros episodes at http://www.podbros.com/. They appreciate ratings on Apple's iTunes, linked here.

Thanks for reading, watching, and listening, and I'll post more moments from the show as the week goes on!

- Paul Thomas, MD

Plum Health at Detroit SOUP

On Sunday night, I got to talk about Plum Health DPC at Detroit SOUP. I presented at Detroit SOUP back in October, and from that presentation I made a series of connections. 

First, I met Kwaku Osei of Cooperative Capital and he invited me to pitch at an event he hosted at the Detroit School for Digital Technology. At that event, I met the owner of the school, and she invited me to use one of the spaces in the building. So, I now have my office in the DSDT building in SW Detroit/Corktown. 

Out of this space at 1759 West 21st Street, we deliver affordable, accessible healthcare services. I got to talk at Detroit SOUP to share my journey and my progress, as the SOUP Community has helped me along my journey! 

Thanks for reading,

- Paul Thomas, MD

Plum Health + The Wise Decision

Sterling Wise operates The Wise Decision and he helps people in Detroit/Southeast Michigan achieve their goals surrounding health, wellness, and nutrition. He also helps people with disabilities or challenging mental health diagnoses to optimize their nutrition and physical activity patterns.

You can learn more about his services at his website or his Facebook page. 

Thanks for reading!

- Paul Thomas, MD

Joe Biden + Plum Health

On Tuesday, January 10th, Vice President Joe Biden came to our building at 1759 West 21st Street in Detroit. As a part of the proceedings surrounding the Motor City Match award ceremony, Joe Biden gave remarks. He spoke about the importance of small businesses and the integrity of neighborhoods to the functioning of cities. As a small business owner, his message resonated with me. 

The Motor City Match program helps business develop from idea to open. When I began my idea generation with Plum Health, I wrote a business plan. I submitted that business plan to the Motor City Match Round 3 on January 1st, 2016. In that round, we received $4,000 worth of grant funding for our business. We were able to use these funds to pay for different services in the small business ecosystem in Detroit, from marketing support, to legal advising, to architectural renderings. 

From there we applied to the Round 4 of the Motor City Match program, but unfortunately, we did not receive any funding. But, we always persevere and re-applied, this time to Round 5. In October 2016, we received a $50,000 grant from the Motor City Match and this will help us grow Plum Health into a more permanent location. 

I really enjoy attending these events with the Motor City Match because I get to meet the like-minded entrepreneurs who are in a similar place as where I am with Plum Health. It's a good place to make connections and network. But this most recent Motor City Match event was like no other. The Detroit School for Digital Technology hosted the event and the space was filled by Mayor Mike Duggan, some of his key staff members, business leaders, the awardees, funders, and many others. Here's a few pictures from the event: 

After the small businesses received their awards from the Mayor and from the Motor City Match team, Joe Biden entered the room to a standing ovation. He spoke, and discussed the importance of cities, the leadership of Mayor Duggan and his administration, and he reflected on the past 8 years in office. All of this took place prior to his travel to Chicago to attend President Obama's Farewell Address later that evening. Here's the beginning of his speech: 

After Vice President Biden's remarks, he took the time to greet members of the crowd and pause for several pictures. Here are a few more pictures:

For me, listening to and shaking hands with the Vice President is something that would have never happened had I not pursued my passion of starting Plum Health. I can't help but to think of a quote from Steve Jobs: "You can't connect the dots looking forward you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path."

In my case as a Family Physician, the well worn path would have been taking a job with a large hospital system, having a career with a paycheck and benefits. Instead, I have chosen to pursue my passion, a role in society that I am excited to fill. I know there are risks of failure, but delivering affordable and accessible healthcare services in Detroit has been challenging and fulfilling, and I hope to continue to serve people in the community and create value for the community through this role. 

Thanks for reading!

- Paul Thomas, MD

Why Your Doctor Should Dispense Medications

Seeing the doctor and then going to the pharmacy can be a hassle, but it doesn't have to be. At Plum Health, we dispense medications directly, saving you time and money. We do this for several reasons, which are outlined below.

Reason #1: we can buy medications at wholesale prices so you don't have to pay too much at the retail pharmacy. Just this week we've saved our members hundreds of dollars on their prescriptions. We dispensed a migraine medication for $20 that sells for $40 at the pharmacy, fluticasone (Flonase) for $4.95 that retails for $18, and several flu shots for $10 that retail for $25. 

Reason #2: you don't need to make 2 trips. It can be frustrating waiting in long lines at the retail pharmacy - we've all been there! Sitting in those vinyl chairs, glancing at our watches and checking our emails while someone is coughing on/near us. By dispensing medications at our clinic, we spare you the wait and the germs!

Reason #3: it helps us track compliance! If we prescribe a medication, we want to make sure that you're taking it. Problems with medication adherence is a big reason why blood pressure becomes uncontrolled, heart failure worsens, and blood sugar gets out of balance. If you come in at regular intervals for refills, we know how you're doing with your medication. And if you're not taking it, we can figure out why. A lot of folks have legitimate reasons for not taking a prescribed medication - it may have an undesirable side effect that prevents them from using it. We'd like to know about this so we can help you address this issue, stop the medication that's causing the problem, and maybe try a new one without that side effect. 

Reason #4: it helps to grow the doctor-patient relationship. We place a high value on having strong relationships with our patients. Open lines of communication allow us to really get to know each other and trust each other. If you come in to refill a medication, it's a good time to catch up and learn more about your experiences over the last few months. 

Reason #5: we know how much medications cost you. I can't tell you how many times I've given a prescription for a medication only to find out 1 month later that the patient did not fill it because of the price. This can be avoided in our clinic. If you can't afford certain medications, it helps us address that issue up front, rather than learning about it at the next visit. 

Thanks for reading and we hope to help you save money on your prescription medications!

- Paul Thomas, MD | Doctor with Plum Health DPC 

New Year, New Office

Happy New Year from Plum Health DPC - we are working out of a new office in Southwest Detroit/Corktown on the corner of 21st and Vernor street. Our address is 1759 West 21st Street, Detroit, MI. 

Over the last 21ish days, we've repainted the place, cleaned and re-painted the closet, sanded and stained the shelves in the closet, built a shelving unit in an existing cubby, brought in a new exam table, brought in a new refrigerator for our vaccines and other medications, brought in our wholesale medications and phlebotomy equipment. Day by day, we are able to provide more and better services for our members.

For example, we purchased the influenza vaccine. This medication typically runs for $25/dose at the retail pharmacy. Because we purchase medications at wholesale prices, we are able to deliver the flu shot for $10. If you haven't been vaccinated, now's a great time to get it done!

To learn more about what we do, look around the site, and to become a member, you can enroll at our scheduling link.

Thanks for watching and have a great day!

- Paul Thomas, MD

Happy New Year from Plum Health!

A big thank you for helping us make 2016 successful, and we're looking forward to growing into 2017 and continuing to create value for our members and for the community that we serve. 

Here's a recap of our big successes so far: invited speaker at Wayne State University School of Medicine, pitched at Detroit SOUP, vendor/community participant at Open Streets Detroit, vendor at Detroit Homecoming, Build Institute Graduate, Motor City Match Winner for a $50,000 grant, TechTown Retail Boot Camp graduate, Winner of the Retail Boot Camp Showcase pitch competition with a $7,500 prize, began making house calls and serving our members, invited speaker at the 30th Detroit PechaKucha night, signed our first small business up for services, signed a lease for a new office at 1759 West 21st Street, and began renovating the space for use in 2017.  

Looking back, 2016 was filled with challenges and opportunities. I look forward to more of these challenges and opportunities in 2017 - see you in the New Year!

- Paul Thomas, MD

New Year's Resolutions with Plum Health

About 45% of Americans make New Year's Resolutions. The number one most frequently stated goal is to lose weight, staying fit and healthy comes in at number five, and quitting smoking at number seven.

Out of those people who make resolutions, only about 8% are able to achieve their stated goal. Why? Well, it may have something to do with a lack of encouragement from your doctor. What if you had a doctor who kept up with your goals, who encouraged your through your process, and who sent you reminders each week? 

That's what we offer at Plum Health DPC - we develop close relationships with our members. We listen to what their goals are and help them to achieve these health goals by giving them reminders via text and email. At follow up visits, we measure progress and fine tune our strategies. It's all about a healthier you, and that's our focus.

Thanks for watching, and let me know if I can help you reach your goals!

- Paul Thomas, MD