Trashtag Challenge at Plum Health DPC

On Monday, April 22nd, it was Earth Day, and last month we contributed by completing the Trashtag Challenge! The Trashtag Challenge is where you get a bunch of your friends, neighbors, colleagues, or classmates and get outside and pick up as much trash as possible, taking before and after pictures to document the process.

When the snow melted in March, it revealed a ton of trash in our parking lot, which was not appreciated. I went out with my friend and colleague, Rob, and we absolutely destroyed a patch of refuse and debris.

But, there was still more work to be done, and we went out with a group of about 12 more people and cleared out more trash from the parking lot and surrounding areas. This is really important because trash and what we do with it has a big impact on our community and our health. Trash and its presence, or absence, impacts the way that we feel about our community.

Paul Thomas MD with a group of students from the Detroit School of Digital Technology, cleaning up trash from our parking lot at 1759 21st Street, Detroit, MI 48216.

There was a bunch of trash beforehand, but we got it done - many hands make light work! This is the Plum Health DPC and DSDT crew cleaning up our shared parking lot and completing the Trashtag Challenge.

I’ll close this with a challenge - can you get a group of people together and clean up a small patch of your community?

Thanks for reading and have a great week! - Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC

Be Safe When you Celebrate

Note: this is sponsored content. If you'd like to sponsor content on our blog, leave us a note, here.

Drunk driving is an action that comes with plenty of potential repercussions. From injury to suspended licenses and financial chaos, the aftermath of drunk driving can be catastrophic. It's a decision that not only directly affects you, but your loved ones, and anyone who happens to be around you on the road. 

Did you know that thirty percent of all fatal Michigan automobile crashes in 2015 involved at least one person who was under the influence? The good news is that drunk driving has generally been on the decline in the past five years. This is most likely due to the popularity of ride share services and professional transportation.

It seems that most people are aware of the negative effects of drunk driving and the consequences that come along with it. Then, why is it still an issue? There are a lot of factors that go into any given decision, but transportation accessibility seems to be the missing link here. However, with ride share services and professional car rentals becoming more affordable and accessible, drunk driving has the potential to continue to decrease dramatically. 

It's simple. The best way to protect yourself and others is to think about your method of transportation when you know you'll be drinking. You should always know your limits and commit to your safety when drinking! Preparing and organizing a plan for safe transportation doesn't have to be a complex process, either. 

It's easier than ever to order a ride share service from your phone when you're in a pinch. Limousines and party buses are another avenue to consider if you'll be in a group setting for a Detroit event or celebration with friends. Splitting the overall cost of a limo or party bus is the perfect way to make safe transportation affordable for everybody involved, and you'll be able to enjoy modern features like stream ready stereo systems and television screens.

In the end, safety should always be your main concern. If you're looking for a ride, check out this Detroit Limo Information.

What Should I Read During My Pregnancy?

This week, I met with a young woman who is beginning her journey with pregnancy, child bearing, and starting a family. This is an exciting time and I'm happy to help young families as they make this transition. She asked me a question that I haven't been asked before, "what should I read during my pregnancy?"

As an avid reader, I wanted to recommend something. But, the truth is this: I haven't read any pregnancy books! I've been pushing this off until my own family becomes pregnant. I still wanted to answer the question, so I took it to my social media community and they showed up with some great responses.

First, they recommended books! This seemed like an obvious first response, and they had good reasons for each one that was recommended.

• What to Expect When You're Expecting is a perennial classic and best-seller, but it receives some criticism for being too "harsh, punitive, and almost like a parody". Or as a friend on social media put it: "What to expect when you're expecting scares the living crap out of me."
• The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is a guide written by Doctors who are Parents, too. This is "good for all the technical stuff", per social media.
• The Wonder Weeks
• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and also the Guide to Breastfeeding
• The Happiest Baby on the Block
• HypnoBirthing, Fourth Edition
• Bringing Up Bébé, which gives a French perspective on parenting on child raising. 
• The Expectant Father, which is a dad's guide to pregnancy
• You and Your Baby, written by an Ob/Gyn, Dr. Laura Riley
• Expecting Better, a somewhat anti-establishment take on pregnancy and the birthing process that re-examines some of the hard and fast rules of pregnancy put forth by the medical establishment. 
• Nursing Your Baby, recommended by a Nurse Practitioner in the group.

However, some of the respondents in the group said don't read anything! "Too many opinions, too much to think about. Just go with the flow and trust your instincts." In fact, this sentiment was written by a family medicine doctor and colleague of mine, and it was echoed by another family medicine doctor.

This "read nothing" approach is an interesting take on the subject, but I second guess their thrust here because they have a significant amount of medical knowledge and practical experience in taking care of pregnant women and their infants. Most lay people and non-doctors lack this knowledge and experience, and that's why non-doctors gravitate towards reading books about pregnancy, child-bearing, and child-rearing: the unknown can be frightening! And some of that fright can be alleviated by reading and learning from the experiences of others. 

Finally, people mentioned subscribing to daily/weekly emails or downloading certain apps. This was best described by a friend on social media: "I read a few different books (i.e. What to Expect), but I found that subscribing to receive emails was most useful (what to expect, the bump). They gave quick summaries of important issues. Also, pregnancy apps have tons of good info and daily updates on what's going on in your pregnancy at that time." Another person recommended the BabyCenter app and the BabyCenter website.

My recommendation? As I said, I haven't read any of these books, used any of these apps, or carried a child to full term myself, so take this cum grano salis: pick 2 - 3 resources and enjoy the experience of pregnancy!

Thanks for reading and thanks to the community of moms, parents, and grandparents that responded!

- Paul Thomas, MD

Plum Health on Detroit is Different

This week, Plum Health DPC was featured on Detroit is Different with Khary Wae Frazier. Khary is the founder of Detroit is Different, which discusses the rich cultural tapestry of Detroit and features the people and businesses that make up this great city. You can check out our episode on his website, here. 

You may know Khary from his work with the Motor City Match - he makes videos for the Motor City Match, featuring entrepreneurs that have won the competitive business challenge. Here's the video that he made for Plum Health DPC.

Here's how Khary describes the work that he does: 

Detroit is Different is about culture, and business makes up a lot of that for our city. The products, services, and the style/ process in which they’re delivered are uniquely Detroit. The gate of the Detroit River has welcomed world travelers for centuries. Today the port remains America’s busiest border for importing and exporting goods. I’ve always felt the best asset we’ve offered the world are Detroiters.

Here's the video before we went live on his Podcast! 

Thanks so much for reading and watching,

- Paul Thomas, MD