Plum Health Blog
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 Speaks with The Gold Humanism Honor Society at Wayne State
This week, I had the privilege of speaking with the medical students who make up the Gold Humanism Honor Society at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Here’s what they had to say about it:
Tonight we had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Paul Thomas about direct primary care and providing affordable and accessible care for everyone. We are so grateful that you took the time to talk with us and we were able to learn more about @plumhealthdpc 💜
When I was a medical student at WSU SOM, I was a part of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Here’s what they’re all about:
The Gold Humanism Honor Society Chapter at Wayne State University School of Medicine was founded in 2005. We strive to embody the following tenets:
Excellence in patient care and advocacy
Compassion for patients and their families
Professionalism and leadership among colleagues, students and staff
Commitment to teaching students
Devotion to promoting humanism in medicine through behavior and attitude
Throughout my training and career in medicine, I’ve worked to cultivate my compassion for others and humanistic approach to medical care. Speaking with students is always a great reminder of the attributes that make up a kind and caring physician, so it was great to be invited to talk with these students.
Thanks for reading and have a great day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC
Dr. Paul Thomas Interviewed on Leading the Rounds Podcast
Recently, I was interviewed on Leading the Rounds Podcast. In this episode, two medical students from Wayne State University School of Medicine, Peter Dimitrion and Caleb Sokolowski, interviewed me to talk about direct primary care and leadership in medicine.
We discuss the difference between fee for service medicine and direct primary care. In the fee-for-service model, patients need to have an insurance plan to access health care. This leaves the roughly 27 million Americans who do not have health insurance vulnerable and without access to health care. I started my direct primary care practice because I believe that healthcare should be affordable and accessible for everyone.
During my residency when I was employed by a large hospital system, I hated to see the front desk staff turn away uninsured patients. I knew that there had to be a better, more compassionate way to deliver health care. When I discovered direct primary care, I knew it was the best option for me to start my own practice and deliver health care services on my own terms, for the good of my patients and for the good of my community.
We discuss the difference between direct primary care and concierge medicine. In short, concierge medicine costs $2,400 annually and requires a health insurance plan to participate. In direct primary care, patients pay about $65 monthly and they do not have to have an additional insurance coverage, although it’s highly recommended. I talk about this topic in depth in this blog post and YouTube video.
We also talk about why patients would want to choose direct primary care and why doctors are choosing to practice in the direct primary care model. Patients choose direct primary care practices like Plum Health in Detroit because they can have a genuine relationship with their physician - our patients know that they can call, text, or email their doctor any time they need to. This accessibility gives our patients peace of mind. Patients choose direct primary care because they know the cost of their care, and there are no surprise bills - patients often save 50 to 90% on their medications, lab work, and imaging services.
Doctors are choosing direct primary care because they can spend more time with their patients and less time with their computers.
“I went into medicine to spend time with my patients, not to spend time with my computer.” - Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC on Leading the Rounds Podcast
Doctors can also liberate themselves from insurance company mandates, and practice medicine on their own terms, maximizing the benefits for their patients. Hear about all this and more in the episode, here:
From Wayne State University School of Medicine:
Wayne State University School of Medicine students Peter Dimitrion and Caleb Sokolowski have jumped into the popular world of podcasting as the creators and hosts of “Leading the Rounds: A Medical Leadership Podcast.”
“We began this podcast because we are both passionate about leadership development, which is its own field and needs to be studied like pathology, biology and more,” said Dimitrion, a second-year M.D./Ph.D. student. “There are few resources for medical trainees that are accessible and affordable. Leadership development is overlooked in contemporary medical education, yet medical students and physicians find themselves in leadership roles from the beginning of their training. Other industries, such as the military and business, have formal leadership development courses, but physicians receive no formal leadership training as a part of their medical curriculum. We want to meet this need and improve our comprehension and understanding of leadership principles.”
His co-host is also in his second year of the M.D. program. Dimitrion and Sokolowski published seven episodes so far, with guests including Army Maj. Cal Walters and Paul Thomas, M.D., a Class of 2013 alumnus and founder of the direct primary care clinic Plum Health in Detroit.
The show will focus on three facets they believe are critical to their development as future medical leaders: leadership development, personal development and health systems literacy.
“Leading the Rounds” is available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
“We also have a website, www.leadingtherounds.com, which we are constantly updating with links to our episodes and resources for anyone who is interested in following up on the ideas that we talk about in our podcast. People can also connect with us on Instagram @Leadingtherounds,” Dimitrion added.
Virtual Walk with the Doctor on Detroit's Beautiful Belle Isle
Virtual Walk with the Doctor in Detroit
This week, I'm hosting a virtual walk with the doctor. We're headed out into beautiful Belle Isle park in the middle of the Detroit River, walking through one of my favorite trails and seeing wildlife along the way.
Exploring Beautiful Belle Isle with Dr. Paul Thomas
Detroit's Belle Isle was designed in the late 1800s by Frederick Law Olmstead, who also designed Central Park in New York City, Mount Royal Park in Quebec, and the Emerald Necklace in Boston. The wooded areas were a central feature of his design, so it's fitting that we're able to walk through one of those wooded areas.
As you spend time on Belle Isle, you'll see a broad array of wildlife. There are groundhogs (aka chuck hogs or whistle pigs), chipmunks, squirrels, eagles, herons, Canadian geese, woodcocks (aka timberdoodles) ducks, frogs, woodpeckers, blue jays, hawks, and many more. During our walk today, we saw several blue jays, ducks, and frogs.
If you want to explore Belle Isle outside of the wooded areas and wildlife areas, there are several attractions. These include the Belle Isle Aquarium, Coy Fish Pond, the Belle Isle Conservatory, the Belle Isle Beach, and many others - the Casino, Detroit Boat Club, Detroit Yacht Club, Dossin Great Lake Museum, Nancy Brown Peace Carillon Tower, Belle Isle Golf Range, Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse, etc...
One exciting new development on the island is the new and ongoing construction of the Oudolf Garden - Piet Oudolf is best known for his work with the High Line in New York and Lurie Garden in Chicago. It's really exciting to have this type of investment into the island, and this new garden will be situated at the base of the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon Tower.
Why 30 Minutes of Daily Exercise is Important for Long-Term Health
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 and 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. Jamie Qualls is Changing the Game for Primary Care in Farmington Hills
Dr. Jamie Qualls is a family medicine doctor taking care of patients in Farmington Hills, Michigan. She started practicing with Plum Health DPC in July 2020 and she has already created some excellent health care experiences for her patients.
She uses a membership model for health care, also known as the direct primary care model, to make health care affordable and accessible for her patients. This allows her to spend more time with each of her patients and it allows her to use that time to come up with the best possible treatment plans for her patients.
Dr. Jamie Qualls often takes a wholistic approach to patient care, incorporating dietary recommendations to help her patients achieve their desired health goals. You can meet with Dr. Jamie Qualls and learn more about her approach by scheduling a consultation, here:
Dr. Qualls focuses on delivering not only excellent health care, but also an excellent health care experience. Here’s what one of Dr. Jamie Qualls patients had to say about their experience at Plum Health DPC in Farmington Hills, MI:
Dr. Jamie Qualls is a family medicine doctor in Farmington Hills Michigan. She uses a membership model for health care, also known as the direct primary care model, to make health care affordable and accessible for her patients.
The Shocking Reason Why Health Insurance Premiums Continue to Rise
This year, I had the opportunity to speak at TEDxDetroit. At first, I struggled with what to say, other than I’m grateful for the platform and the opportunity. But, I realized that it was important to discuss the outrageous increases in health insurance costs for the average American family.
The Way Rising Health Insurance Costs Affect the Take Home Pay of Americans
The average family in the United States paid about $3,500 for employer-sponsored health insurance coverage in 2009 and that amount of money ballooned to about $6,000 in 2019.
What’s even worse is that employers were spending $9,860 per employee in 2009 to administer those health insurance plans, and in 2019 they’re paying $14,561 for those same health insurance plans.
All of this money spent on Health Insurance costs is a huge detriment for our national economy and for the paychecks of individual Americans. Imagine if health insurance costs were the same today as they were in 2009, each American family would have an extra $10,000 in wages from their employer. Instead, that extra $10,000 is spent on health insurance costs.
The Reason Why Health Insurance Costs Continue to Rise in the United States
Let’s start by discussing the 80/20 rule in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA set forth some well-intentioned provisions. Here’s what HealthCare.gov has to say about this 80/20 rule:
The 80/20 Rule generally requires insurance companies to spend at least 80% of the money they take in from premiums on health care costs and quality improvement activities. The other 20% can go to administrative, overhead, and marketing costs. The 80/20 rule is sometimes known as Medical Loss Ratio, or MLR.
According to the American Economic Association: “Rather than lower premiums, insurers searched for other ways to come into compliance. Initially, there were efforts to relabel some administrative costs as “quality improvements”—like lobbying to count spending on nurses’ hotlines as part of the 80 percent. But the easiest route to meeting the requirement was simply to let medical claims increase. That companies opted to do this, instead of lowering premiums, didn’t come as a surprise”
Within that 20% of administrative, overhead, and marketing costs, insurance companies have their profit margin. Therefore, the more money spent on insurance claims, no matter how bogus, the larger the profit margin becomes for the insurance companies.
Increased Health Care Spending on Inflated Health Insurance Claims
This brings me to the glaring example of inflated health care costs based on questionable medical care and out-of-network billing. In December 2019, I heard about the $25,865 throat swab that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota paid for. The gist of the story, from NPR’s Bill of the Month series, is that a woman in Manhattan went to a doctor for a sore throat, received a throat swab, and was given an antibiotic.
Because the throat swab was processed by an out-of-network lab, the cost of the throat swab was $25,865.
First of all, a good primary care doctor can develop a trusting relationship with a patient, obtain a history of the illness, and perform a physical exam for 99% of viral or bacterial throat infections or cases of pharyngitis. In other words, a throat swab is NOT NEEDED in 99% of pharyngitis cases.
Second, the fact that the insurance company paid for this $25,865 throat swab is insane. The reasonable cost for a throat swab like this might be $100 to $500, no $25,865. If I ran the insurance company, I would be calling the out-of-network lab’s bluff here and they’d be paid a reasonable $500 at most.
However, as discussed above, the more money insurance companies spend on health care or medical losses, the more profits they’re able to rake in due to the 80/20 rule in the affordable care act.
That’s why we’ve seen our health care spending increase from $2.5 Trillion in 2009 to $4.01 Trillion in 2020.
We must end these insane health insurance practices before it further affects our earnings and our Nation’s economy.
Thanks for reading and thanks for watching my TEDxDetroit talk,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC in Detroit
Paul Thomas MD at TEDxDeroit 2020
Paul Thomas MD at TEDxDetroit 2020
It’s a tremendous honor to be back at TEDxDetroit! I spoke in 2017 about our mission to provide affordable and accessible healthcare in Detroit and beyond.
This year, I’m grateful for TEDxDetroit, the community of positive supporters who are working to make Detroit better everyday, and the opportunity to share my perspective on why our health care costs continue to rise.
Join me tonight on the virtual main stage at 8:15 pm - the event is free and all are welcome!
If you're not already registered, GO! What are you waiting for? TEDxDetroit 2020 starts at 10am and it's FREE: http://tedxdetroit.connect.space/
If you're registered, snap a selfie in the virtual photo gallery: https://virtual.fancyflashpb.com/virtual/capture/owZX3
Paul Thomas MD will be speaking at TEDxDetroit. For more information, go to https://www.tedxdetroit.com/speakers-2020/
Men's Health in Detroit
Men’s Health in Detroit
There are a number of preventive services that men need to stay healthy as they age. Basic items include annual flu shots and annual blood work to check for cholesterol levels. Checking your blood pressure, height, and weight is also important to screen for hypertension and obesity.
As men age, more complex screening tests are needed. For example, at age 50, men need a Colonoscopy to check for colon cancer. Men who smoke require an ultrasound of the abdominal aorta to rule out an aortic aneurysm at age 65. Men who smoke the equivalent of 1 pack per day for 20 years would benefit from a CT scan of the lungs to rule out lung cancer starting at age 50. From the United States Preventive Services Task Force:
The USPSTF recommends annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in adults ages 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
If you’d like us to help you coordinate these tests by becoming your primary care doctor, you can sign up on our website, here.
Men’s Health Event in Detroit
On the note of preventive service, this weekend, the MIU Men’s Health Foundation is providing an opportunity to do check some of these screening tests off of your list. This Saturday, September 26th, the foundation is hosting its 10th annual Men’s Health Event at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. The event will run from 9AM-4PM and the entrance is located at 770 W. State Fair, in Highland Park. To avoid waiting in a line, they do recommend scheduling a time for your drive-through by registering at this website.
All Metro Detroit-area men, ages 18 years and older, with or without insurance, can participate in this completely drive-through event. All services are completely free, and include vital screenings, a bloodwork panel, flu vaccinations, FIT kits for colorectal cancer screening, COVID-19 nasal swab testing, and HIV testing. All testing will be administered without participants needing to leave their vehicles. Blood work results will be texted back, unless other arrangements are made at the event, and you do not need to be fasting for the blood draw. More information about the event is available here.
The Debate on Prostate Cancer Screening in Detroit
Prostate Cancer screening is a double-edged sword. Prostate specific antigen is a protein made by the prostate that can become elevated during prostate cancer. It can be easily tested with a blood draw. Just because it can be easily tested, doesn’t mean it should be tested. Usually, PSA testing is done on an annual basis for men with a family history of prostate cancer.
The test is only recommended for men between the ages of 55 and 69. If you don’t have a family history of prostate cancer, and you get the PSA test, and it comes back high, a workup may be recommended. To find out if you have prostate cancer, a trans-rectal biopsy is performed. That means a Urologist or a prostate cancer specialist inserts an instrument into your butthole/rectum, and uses an instrument to take a piece of tissue from your prostate.
Because this biopsy is close to other important nerves and blood vessels that can control urine function and erectile function, this transrectal biopsy and other procedures to test for and treat prostate cancer can result in loss of urinary function and loss of erectile function.
You must know these facts before being tested for prostate cancer with a simple blood test.
From the United States Preventive Services Task Force:
For men aged 55 to 69 years, the decision to undergo periodic prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer should be an individual one. Before deciding whether to be screened, men should have an opportunity to discuss the potential benefits and harms of screening with their clinician and to incorporate their values and preferences in the decision. Screening offers a small potential benefit of reducing the chance of death from prostate cancer in some men. However, many men will experience potential harms of screening, including false-positive results that require additional testing and possible prostate biopsy; overdiagnosis and overtreatment; and treatment complications, such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction. In determining whether this service is appropriate in individual cases, patients and clinicians should consider the balance of benefits and harms on the basis of family history, race/ethnicity, comorbid medical conditions, patient values about the benefits and harms of screening and treatment-specific outcomes, and other health needs. Clinicians should not screen men who do not express a preference for screening.
I’ll repeat that information for emphasis: Screening offers a small potential benefit of reducing the chance of death from prostate cancer in some men. However, many men will experience potential harms of screening, including false-positive results that require additional testing and possible prostate biopsy; overdiagnosis and overtreatment; and treatment complications, such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
Thanks for reading, and we hope you take advantage of these screening tests, when appropriate.
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Family Medicine Office in Detroit Accepting New Patients
Plum Health DPC is a Family Medicine Office in Detroit Michigan that is accepting new patients. For new and prospective patients, we’re excited to share our latest 3D rendering of our office - you can now take a virtual tour of our Plum Health DPC office using the navigation system below. We have a waiting room, a conference room, 3 exam rooms, a medication room, and more.
Check out this excellent 3D rendering created by our friends at The Handbuilt City. Here’s what they had to say about our service:
Plum Health DPC (Direct Primary Care) is a family practice doctor’s office in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, occupying a storefront space in the new development at the former Tiger Stadium. Dr. Paul Thomas, MD, and Dr. Raquel Orlich, DO, are the two doctors here, while Dr. Jamie Qualls, DO, MPH, operates out of a new office in Farmington Hills. Paul has written two books, one explaining the emergent phenomenon of Direct Primary Care, and one explaining the practice for doctors from a startup and entrepreneurial standpoint.
The Handbuilt City had more good things to say:
Plum Health started a few blocks away in the Detroit School of Digital Technology, a former police precinct, on West Vernor Highway. DPC is a healthcare model that emphasizes individual access. Patients pay a subscription fee per month, the “direct” part of the DPC– almost like “medicine-as-a-service.” Patients can text, call, or e-mail their doctor directly, rather than having to schedule weeks-out appointments through the increasingly byzantine and faceless processes of corporate medicine. In comparison, one might pay five times more per month for a high-deductible health insurance plan, but might have to nonetheless wait weeks to schedule an appointment with a doctor who doesn’t have the time to get to know you as a patient. DPC also provides affordable access to a range of common medications, affordable lab testing, vaccinations, and more.
As GoodRX notes: “[DPC] physicians are able to avoid the time normally spent preparing and filing insurance paperwork. This allows for in-depth visits and consultations with their patients. Direct primary care practices also typically have fewer patients than those accepting insurance.”
The practice has been well-reviewed on Google (5.0 stars out of 72 reviews) and Yelp (5.0 stars out of 5 reviews). See JC Reindl’s write-up in the Free Press, coverage from MJ Galbraith in Model D Media, and this article from TheHUB.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
House Call Doctor in Detroit
I make house calls because I believe that healthcare should be affordable and accessible. 🥼
That accessibility piece can be out of reach for some elderly and disabled patients who cannot leave their home. This is especially true in Detroit, where nearly one third of Detroiters lack access to reliable transportation. 🚗
Studies on the effects of house calls on healthcare outcomes show fewer hospitalizations 🏥, fewer emergency room visits, decrease in re-admissions (going back to the hospital shortly after discharge), and these house 🏠 calls save patients money 💵.
That’s why it’s important for me to offer this vital service. This pic was taken last week in the Five Points neighborhood. I’m proud of this work and of how we’re able to lower the cost of care and make excellent health care available to more people.
The vast majority of our visits take place in our offices - we have two locations where we take care of people face to face and by using virtual visits. But, house calls can be used at any time to help our patients who are shut in, who have mobility issues, or who have concerns where they’d prefer not to leave their homes.
From the American Academy of Family Physicians:
House calls, also referred to as home visits, are increasing in the United States. Approximately 40% of patient visits in the 1930s were house calls. By 1996, this decreased to 0.5% because insurance reimbursements for house calls decreased. The pendulum in the United States is swinging again to house calls because of the need to develop care models for the growing aging population.
More information from the American Academy of Family Physicians on the benefits of house calls:
The Independence at Home program demonstrated a 23% reduction in hospitalizations, a 27% decrease in 30-day readmissions, and a cost savings of $111 per beneficiary per month, which is a $70 million savings over three years. Similarly, a large systematic review (N = 46,154; nine studies) evaluating home-based primary care outcomes for homebound older adults reported fewer hospitalizations, hospital bed days of care, emergency department visits, long-term care admissions, and long-term bed days of care.
If you’d like this type of care and service for yourself or your family, you can sign up here.
Dr. Paul Thomas makes a house call on the West Side of Detroit in the Five Points neighborhood. House calls can make health care more affordable and more accessible.
Dr. Paul Thomas Welcomes 300 New Medical Students to Detroit
Last week, Dr. Paul Thomas welcomed 300 new medical students to Wayne State University School of Medicine. Typically, the incoming students are packed into a large lecture hall at WSU SOM’s Scott Hall. But this year, due to Coronavirus, the event was held outdoors at Chevrolet Plaza, adjacent to the Little Caesars Arena. This open air venue accommodated 100 medical students at a time, and there were three “Welcome to Detroit” sessions throughout the day.
Dr. Paul Thomas gave a “Welcome to Detroit” lecture to the incoming medical students that emphasized the significant history and culture of the City of Detroit. There are so many opportunities for students to immerse themselves in service learning, by volunteering at local free clinics and by giving back to Detroit and the surrounding communities, by working with grade school students and the elderly, by volunteering at food banks and soup kitchens.
Dr. Paul Thomas shared a quote from Jeanette Pierce, “Detroit is big enough to matter in the world, and small enough for you to matter in it.”
Wayne State University School of Medicine Dean Margit Chadwell with Dr. Paul Thomas, MD, guest lecturer and Clinical Assistant Professor.
Direct Primary Care Removes the Middlemen and Lowers the Cost of Health Care
There are perverse incentives in the healthcare system. As a part of my mission to provide affordable and accessible health care in Detroit and beyond, it needs to be said that the middlemen in healthcare inflate the cost of the care that you receive.
Anthem Revenue $104 Billion (2019)
Cigna Revenue $154 Billion (2019)
United Revenue $242 Billion (2019)
Cigna CEO salary $18.9 million (2018)
United CEO salary $21.5 million (2018)
Blue Cross CEO salary $19.2 million (2018)
The total annual healthcare spending in the US is over $3.6 trillion annually.
Healthcare spending on administration: 34%
Healthcare spending on physician salary: 8.6%
When your doctor can’t get you the tests/imaging/procedures/surgery/medication you NEED, remind yourself that the middle management, the CEOs, the lobbyists for health insurance company did NOT swear an oath to put your health above money.
Your doctor did.
Doctors are missing sleep, skipping vacation, answering calls on weekend and holidays, missing important family events, and otherwise working tirelessly to keep you healthy.
All of that's to say that I firmly believe in the power of the doctor-patient relationship and removing the middlemen from this equation. This is why we do what we do at Plum Health DPC.
https://www.plumhealthdpc.com/
#DirectPrimaryCare #PlumHealth
Connect with me on LinkedIn:
Coronavirus Update for August 2020 in Detroit
This is Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC https://www.plumhealthdpc.com/ and I'm giving a Coronavirus Update for August 2020.
What's up with the spikes of cases in Oakland and Macomb County recently? It's likely that people are gathering for big events (I'm looking at you Jobbie Nooner, 43rd Port Huron Float Down, and the unofficial Woodward Dream Cruise) and not wearing masks or maintaining social distancing.
Stay safe. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your neighbors, near and far.
#PlumHealth #CoronavirusUpdate #DirectPrimaryCare
Plum Health DPC Specializes In Comprehensive Women's Health
Plum Health DPC Specializes in Comprehensive Women’s Health
We strive to deliver excellent care and services for women in our community. We are fortunate to have two excellent female physicians at Plum Health DPC who go above and beyond for their patients at Plum Health DPC.
Specific Services Offered for Women’s Health at Plum Health
We offer a range of services for women in our community, both at our Detroit and Farmington Hills Office. Dr. Raquel Orlich practices at our Detroit office and Dr. Jamie Qualls practices at our Farmington Hills office. Both physicians are excellent in caring for women’s health concerns, including but not limited to:
Birth Control Services
IUD Insertion and Removal
Pap Smears or Pap Testing
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Testing
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing
Implanon Insertion and Removal
Dietary Counseling
Weight loss management
Aesthetics like Botox at our Detroit office with Dr. Raquel Orlich
Affordable and Accessible Health Care For Women
Health Insurance can often create a barrier for patients getting access to primary care services. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, getting access to a doctor’s visit can be difficult and expensive. With our direct primary care model at Plum Health DPC, we do not bill or use insurance. Therefore, most of our patients pay $49 or $69 monthly to be a part of our health care service (see our prices based on age, here).
In addition, many of the procedures and services that we offer at Plum Health are included in the membership. Included services include:
visits with the doctor
phone calls, emails, and texting with the doctor
many procedures like IUD insertion, IUD removal,
motivational interviewing like dietary counseling
educational services like birth control management
If you need oral contraceptive pills or birth control pills from our office, prices range from $4 to $9 monthly for medications like Sprintec, Aviane, Junel, Junel FE, and Apri.
If you need lab work performed at our office, it’s roughly $75 for Pap Testing with HPV co-testing and it’s roughly $45 for Sexually Transmitted Infection testing like HIV, Syphilis, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea testing.
How to Sign Up For a Women’s Health Doctor in Detroit and Farmington Hills
If you’d like to sign up for this type of health care service for yourself, your family, or your business, you can enroll online here.
Thanks for reading!
-Dr. Jamie Qualls, DO, MPH and Dr. Raquel Orlich, DO
Plum Health Takes Care of Patients of All Ages and Stages
Doctors at Plum Health DPC take care of Patients of All Ages and Stages
This week we welcomed the newest member of the Plum Pack, Zaya! 👶 We saw this bundle of joy for her newborn appointment and she was healthy and had a great cry (a sign of vitality).
At Plum Health, we take care of patients of all ages and stages. Our youngest member is now 4 days old and our oldest member is 93 years young 😊
We’re family medicine doctors 🥼 and we’re trained to take care of people as they age and transition through life’s many challenges
Happy birthday Zaya 🎁 🎈 🎂 and here’s to your health!
Thanks for letting us share this moment, and 📸 photo cred to @goodlifedetroit
Patient Ages at Plum Health DPC
At Plum Health, the vast majority of our patients are ages 18 to 39 (55% of our panel) or ages 40 to 64 (32% of our panel). However, we take care of children or pediatric patients ages 0 to 17 (9% of our panel) as well as geriatric patients ages 65 and above (4% of our panel). See below:
At Plum Health, the vast majority of our patients are ages 18 to 39 (55% of our panel) or ages 40 to 64 (32% of our panel). However, we take care of children or pediatric patients ages 0 to 17 (9% of our panel) as well as geriatric patients ages 65 and above (4% of our panel).
If you’d like to sign up to be one of our patients, you can enroll here - all ages welcome!
- Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Plum Health DPC Featured in the Farmington Voice
Dr. Jamie Qualls of Plum Health DPC in Farmington Hills, Michigan was featured by the Farmington Voice this week. The Farmington Voice is a local paper that covers local news in the Farmington and Farmington Hills communities and Dr. Jamie Qualls and the arrival of her new primary care office therein received some nice coverage:
For a monthly membership fee, Plum Health Direct Primary Care (DPC) offers wholesale prices on medication and deeply discounted fees for x-rays and other tests. In addition, Dr. Jamie Qualls is available to patients anytime by text, email, or phone .
Having completed her residency in June, Qualls said this is the kind of medicine she has always wanted to practice. She chose the office in Civic Center Office Plaza, 25882 Orchard Lake Road, because of the central location and easy access to the freeway.
Here’s a link to the full article.
Dr. Jamie Qualls at her family medicine office in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Dr. Jamie Qualls is a family medicine doctor, using the direct primary care model, and is accepting new patients.
Great Feedback From One of Our New Members at Plum Health
This week, we got some great feedback from one of our new members at Plum Health DPC. Here’s what she had to say in a Facebook post:
I’ve been hearing about Plum Health DPC for a while, I signed up and was l was seen yesterday by them. It’s been 24 hours and I can’t stop raving about it! Everyone who is a small business owner or self employed knows that private insurances are a joke & so pricy.
I was seen the day after I scheduled my appointment, No wait when arriving to the beautiful clinic. You pay a monthly fee for unlimited service (I’m paying $49, you can cancel at anytime), all services that they offer are very low cost, my blood work was $45, B12 injection $1.45, and a prescription for $1.39. They offer I’ll say most or all services that you’ll get at your primary care office. Apart from the affordable services I absolutely loved my doctor, I was not rushed AT ALL.
You also have the flexibility of texting your doctor, I was texting my doctor yesterday and I can’t even explain how that feels like.
Maybe I’m sharing a bit TMI, but I know so many self employed people and small business owners that have no insurance. I had not been properly seen by a doctor in over 5 years because of insurance so I wish I would’ve came across them sooner & I hope that others take advantage of how wonderful this service is.
They’re located in Corktown (Michigan & Trumbull)
Check them out if you want more information
Okay I’m done 🤣
If you’d like to to see for yourself why people love our direct primary care services at Plum Health, you can sign up here.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day,
-Paul Thomas MD with Plum Health DPC
Plum Health DPC was recently given a glowing review on Facebook by one of our new members!
Dr. Jamie Qualls to Start a Plant-Based Blog
Dr. Jamie Qualls is a family doctor in Farmington Hills Michigan and she focuses on a food-as-medicine approach. She will be writing about her approach on a monthly blog and we post her insights and wisdom here. If you want to follow Dr. Jamie Qualls on Instagram, she’s at @jamie_plumhealthdpc.
vegmichigan
We at VegMichigan are so excited to be partnering with Dr. Jamie (@jamie_plumhealthdpc) for this new, monthly feature to our blog!
Dr. Jamie is going to be sharing years and years of knowledge through her blog and we are so lucky to have her share her wisdom!
Subscribe to our newsletter (link in bio) to find out each Health Corner topic of the month 👍
#herbivore #eatplants #plantbased #nomeat #meatfree #plantbasedhealth #vegmichigan #veganmichigan #govegan #plantbased #plantstrong #vegandetroit #plantbaseddoctors #michiganeats #michiganfood #veganeducation #veganfoodshare #veganforbeginners #howtovegan #poweredbyplants #healthylifestyle #michiganmade #michiganvegan #michiganvegans #michiganhealth #detroitfoodie #michiganeats #whatveganseat
Family Medicine Doctor Accepting New Patients in Farmington Hills Michigan
Dr. Jamie Qualls is a Family Medicine Doctor practicing in Farmington Hills Michigan with Plum Health DPC. She is accepting new patients.
Dr. Jamie Qualls is a family medicine doctor accepting new patients in Farmington Hills, Michigan. She is a Board Certified Family Medicine doctor who completed her residency here in Southeast Michigan at Ascension Providence Hospital. She is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Jamie Qualls practices full time at the Plum Health DPC office in Farmington Hills, Michigan - the address is 25882 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 200B, Farmington Hills, MI 48336.
As a family medicine physician, Dr. Jamie Qualls has a broad scope of practice. She helps patients manage chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, asthma, COPD, and many more. Dr. Qualls is also proficient in caring for urgent concerns, like urinary tract infections, laceration repairs, ingrown toenails, strep throat, viral gastroenteritis, and others.
Finally, Dr. Qualls excels at integrating plant based nutrition into her care plans to produce optimal health outcomes for her patients. Dr. Qualls can collect blood work in the office to test for cholesterol levels, thyroid disorders, electrolyte imbalances, and kidney or liver disorders. She can also coordinate imaging studies that may be needed to make an accurate diagnosis.
To become a patient of Dr. Qualls, please sign up here.
Plum Health Featured in The Jewish News
Plum Health DPC Featured in The Jewish News
This week, Plum Health DPC was featured in The Jewish News by writer Ben Falik. My favorite excerpts are as follows:
It’s simpler to describe how direct primary care works than how — let me count the ways — traditional fee-for-service, even with “good” insurance, does not:
I am a member of Plum Health Direct Primary Care. Membership costs $49 a month. Raquel Orlich is my doctor.
I guess she’s other people’s doctor too. But I can call, email or text (from my $50/month phone) Dr. Orlich anytime I’m having an issue and, if she can’t solve it remotely, she can always see me that day or the following.
At one point, there were some balloons celebrating Dr. Orlich’s 300th patient. Ultimately, she’ll have around 500. That seems like a lot, I thought, especially compared to my prior impression that I was her only patient.
The writer, Ben Falik, discusses when his daughter got a splinter in her finger and she was brought to our Plum Health DPC office for care:
Phoebe got a splinter in her finger recently. We texted “Dr. Raquel.” She wrote me right back with her availability. I brought Phoebe to the office at Michigan and Trumbull. Free street parking. Splinter gone. Respectable Band-Aid selection. No charge. And now Phoebe wants to be either a doctor or Great Dane when she grows up.
Dr. Raquel Orlich removes a splinter within 24 hours of being notified of said splinter.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC