Plum Health Blog
Corktown Detroit Walking Tour with Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC
Corktown Detroit Walking Tour with Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC
Today, we decided to do a walking tour of Corktown.
There's a few big developments on Michigan Avenue - the Godfrey Hotel/boutique hotel and the Perennial Apartments/luxury apartment building with a rooftop pool. https://detroit.eater.com/2021/9/29/22700588/corktown-detroit-opening-the-godfrey-hotel-rooftop-lounge-restaurant
Michigan Avenue is set to be replaced with an road surface that will charge electric vehicles as they drive. https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/mark-phelan/2020/08/13/michigan-avenue-most-advanced-road/3364328001/
As we walk, we pass Momento Gelato, Ottava Via, Brooklyn Street Local, and Detroit Institute of Bagels on the way to Mudgie's Deli. http://www.mudgiesdeli.com/wp/
Importantly, Mudgie's Deli owner Greg Mudge recently passed away and there is an ongoing effort to rename the street in the honor of Greg Mudge. It's heading to Detroit's City Council this week: https://detroitmi.gov/government/city-council
From a medical perspective, you should aim for 30 minutes of vigorous activity each day - cardiovascular exercise like walking, running, biking, swimming, or other aerobic activities. The goal is to get 30 minutes each day for 5 days each week, or 150 minutes in total of vigorous, aerobic exercise.
The new COVID booster is a bivalent booster, meaning that it has the original vaccine PLUS the omicron-specific vaccine. Bivalent just means that the vaccine protects you from TWO strains of virus.
In comparison, the Fluarix Flu shot is a Quadrivalent vaccine, which protects against four strains of flu viruses. This year the Fluarix quadrivalent flu shot protects against the Victoria 2019, Darwin 2021, Austria 2021, and Phuket 2013 flu strains. We have the Fluarix flu shots at our Plum Health DPC office for $24.
We also carry the Fluzone Quadrivalent Flu Vaccine, which again protects against four strains of flu viruses. This year the Fluzone quadrivalent flu shot protects against the Victoria 2019, Darwin 2021, Phuket 2013, and Michigan 2021 flu strains. This Fluzone vaccine is $23 at our Plum Health DPC office.
The Bivalent Covid vaccine is free at most pharmacies and health departments. We will have free doses at Plum Health starting next week on Wednesday (09/28/2022).
Covid Bivalent Booster Vaccine side effects are similar to previous vaccines - arm soreness, it could cause malaise (not feeling well) for 1 to 2 days, it could cause a low-grade temperature increase to 99 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
START UP TV Show Featuring Plum Health DPC Airing Sunday at 1:30 pm on PBS
START UP TV Show Featuring Plum Health DPC Airing Sunday at 1:30 pm on PBS
Sunday November 15th at 1:30 pm in the Detroit market and Sunday November 22nd nationally, Plum Health DPC will be featured on the START UP TV Show on PBS. They’re focusing on how we’re lowering the cost of healthcare in Detroit and beyond. If you didn’t know, the number one reason for bankruptcy in the US is medical debt. 🏥 💰This is wrong and it needs to be fixed. 🛠
As doctors 🥼 , we took an oath to “first do no harm”, and that oath needs to include financial harm. Join us as we work towards a more just and equitable health care delivery system. 💊 💉
Here’s what they had to say about us:
Dr. Paul Thomas knew what he wanted to do with his life since the age of 17. After completing medical school, residency and a short stint at an urgent care facility, he founded Plum Health. Plum Health offers direct primary care services based on a subscription model. Rather than charge patients for each visit, patients pay a set fee each month, gaining direct access to doctors as needed, including access to wholesale medications, imaging services and lab work. This is a story about disruption, and being the change that you wish to see.
Here’s the description of START UP TV Show from their website:
What does it really take to follow your dreams? Learn from the people who've done it.
Join host Gary Bredow as he travels across America interviewing small business owners to hear their personal stories and find out what it really takes to start a successful business from the ground up. Energetic, inspirational, and educational, START UP is a fast paced series that captures the heart and imagination of anyone who has ever dreamed of starting their own business.
The filming process for this episode took a lot of time, effort, and energy, so we’re grateful to the START UP TV Show team.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Dr. Jamie Qualls uses an osteopathic manual medicine technique for one of our patients. Dr. Jamie Qualls is a board certified family medicine physician who practices out of our Plum Health DPC location in Farmington Hills. You can learn more about Dr. Jamie Qualls, here.
Dr. Raquel Orlich counts out medications, getting ready to dispense them from our in-house pharmacy at our Plum Health DPC location in Corktown, Detroit. Dr. Raquel Orlich is a board certified family physician taking care of patients in our Corktown Location. You can learn more about Dr. Raquel Orlich, here.
Plum Health DPC Featured in Start Up TV Show on PBS This Fall
Exciting news! We’re going to be on a TV 📺 show called @startuptvshow on @pbs this fall 🍁 🍁 Our episode airs November 8th at 1:30 pm 🙌🏼 🙌🏼
Here’s what they said:
“😱 🤯 What if we told you that there is a direct primary care physician 👨⚕️ in Detroit that does house calls and offers books 📚 about how to start your own practice?
Awesome, right? You will learn more about Plum Health and their desire to provide affordable and accessible health care 💉 💊 🥼 on this season of START UP, premiering October 18th!”
Tune in every Sunday, as the show will be featuring some amazing business in Detroit 💯
Filming this episode was a multi-day process at our office in Corktown Detroit. We got to work with a very talented film crew with an amazing creative vision. The crew put a ton of effort and energy into the filming process and we hope that energy will be reflected in the final product.
This is our first time being featured for an extended interview, so there was a lengthy sit-down interview process and a great deal of B-roll footage, from us performing physical exam maneuvers on our patients in our office, to us counting out meds, and even a scene of Dr. Paul Thomas on a bicycle!
The episode will air on November 8th at 1:30 pm Eastern Time, so mark your calendars!
If you’d like to become a member of Plum Health, you can sign up here:
Thanks for reading and setting your DVRs!
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
More about the Start Up TV Show
Crain’s Detroit Business did a nice write up on the show, and described it as follows:
"Start Up," in its eighth season, gives viewers a look inside the world of the American entrepreneur. This season, with the first episode set to air at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 18, will feature 13 entrepreneurs — 12 of them based in Michigan. The season, according to show creator Gary Bredow, will center on how small-business owners and entrepreneurs have adapted to and navigated their way through what has been a turbulent 2020. The show will air on more than 350 PBS stations nationwide.
Start up season 8 teaser trailer
The Start Up crew put together a fantastic teaser trailer for Season 8, and you can see that teaser here:
Virtual Walk with the Doctor in Detroit's Oldest Neighborhood - Corktown
Virtual Walk with the Doctor in Detroit’s Oldest Neighborhood - Corktown!
This week, I'm hosting a virtual walk with the doctor. We're headed out into Detroit's oldest neighborhood, Corktown!
Boundaries of the Corktown Neighborhood
Corktown is a historic district located just west of Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It is the oldest extant neighborhood in the city. The current boundaries of the district include I-75 to the north, the Lodge Freeway to the east, Bagley and Porter streets to the south, and Rosa Parks Boulevard (12th Street) to the west. The neighborhood was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Why is Corktown Called Corktown?
The Great Famine of Ireland of the 1840s resulted in extensive Irish migration to the United States and Canada. By the middle of the 19th century, they were the largest ethnic group settling in Detroit. Many of these newcomers settled on the west side of the city; they were primarily from County Cork, and thus the neighborhood came to be known as Corktown.
Biggest New Investment in the Corktown Neighborhood
One exciting new development in Corktown is the Ford Headquarters that will be within the Michigan Central Station. The Michigan Central Station is on the western end of the Corktown neighborhood and it's been vacant since 1986. There is currently a billion dollar investment into the former train station to modernize the building and make it fit for the Ford Motor Company's headquarters.
This single investment is prompting other individuals and businesses to invest in the community by renovating old commercial and residential properties, as well as build new commercial and residential properties.
The Best Part about Corktown
The best part of Corktown in my opinion are the people who have invested in the community for the long term - the neighbors, the long-term residents, and the small business community. There are several small business that we pass on this walk that have been neighborhood stalwarts. They include but are not limited to:
This is the map for the Virtual Walk with the Doctor in Detroit’s Oldest Neighborhood - Corktown! We start at Plum Health DPC on Michigan Avenue, head east on Michigan Avenue to Sixth street, head south on Sixth Street to Porter. Then we head west on Porter, snake through the Corktown neighborhood, passing Mudgie’s Deli, Batch Brewery, Folk Detroit, among many other houses and small businesses, before we head back to Michigan Avenue and Detroit PAL.
My goal with this is to provide some education and entertainment during these trying times of Covid 19, quarantine, political uncertainty, and the stress of daily life. Take a few moments to enjoy this video and immerse yourself in a calming environment.
Perhaps you'll watch this video while on your treadmill, or perhaps this video will inspire you to check out your nearest park, nearest walkable community, or to hike a trail close to your home. Importantly, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends the following activity levels for adults:
For substantial health benefits, adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) to 300 minutes (5 hours) a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity. Preferably, aerobic activity should be spread throughout the week.
Additional health benefits are gained by engaging in physical activity beyond the equivalent of 300 minutes (5 hours) of moderate-intensity physical activity a week.
Adults should also do muscle-strengthening twice weekly and this has added health benefits
I bring this up because I’m a family doctor and because the leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease. From the CDC:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
One person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. About 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year—that's 1 in every 4 deaths.
The best way to combat heart disease is with regular exercise, a health diet, and no smoking cigarettes and limited alcohol consumption.
Thanks for reading and watching and I hope this video inspires you to strive for your health goals and to get outside for a walk this week!
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC in Detroit, Michigan
Dr. Paul Thomas takes you on a Virtual Walk with the Doctor, starting at Plum Health DPC, and venturing through Corktown, Detroit’s Oldest Neighborhood.
Primary Care Doctor Delivers Medication by Bike in Corktown Detroit
Sometimes we’re able to go above and beyond for our patients at Plum Health. This week, one of our patients was having an allergy flare up and needed a refill of some allergy meds, but couldn’t make it into the office because of a scheduling conflict. So, I rode my bike over to their home and delivered the medications. It’s a little thing, but it makes a big difference!
Here’s the LinkedIn post I made about the medication delivery in Corktown:
If you’re looking for compassionate family medicine or primary care doctors in Detroit, you can sign up for our service, here.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Plum Health serves a Health Professional Shortage Area
Plum Health serves a Health Professional Shortage Area, and we’re proud to do this. Part of our mission is to deliver affordable, accessible health care services in Detroit and beyond. This is important because we are passionate about making health care available to communities that have been traditionally neglected by the existing medical system.
Unfortunately, doctors and hospital systems choose to locate their practices in neighborhoods and communities that have higher income levels and higher rates of private insurance coverage. You see, doctors in the current fee-for-service system only receive what they are paid by third party payers, like Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies.
And some of these payers pay more for services than others. For example, Medicaid reimbursement is much lower than Medicare reimbursement or Private Insurance reimbursement. This really hurts Detroit as a greater proportion of Detroiters rely on Medicaid for health insurance relatives to other counties in our region.
Therefore, the current fee-for-service system incentivizes doctors to locate their practices in higher-income communities, and thus leaves lower-income communities medically underserved. As an example, the ratio of primary care physicians to general population in Detroit is roughly 1 primary care physician for every 6,300 residents. In Oakland county, there’s about 1 primary care physician for every 683 residents.
Below are the medically underserved areas in Detroit as of 2017. We are proud to be practicing in the Southwest Detroit/Corktown neighborhoods and serving our neighbors, community members, and small businesses with high-quality medical services.
Thank you for reading and understanding this important issue,
-Dr. Paul Thomas, MD with Plum Health DPC in Detroit, Michigan
More on the above map: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a Federal Agency, develops shortage designation criteria to determine whether a geographic area, population group or facility is a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or a Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P). HPSAs may be designated as having a shortage of primary medical care, dental or mental health providers. They may be urban or rural areas, population groups, or medical or other public facilities. MUAs may be a whole county or a group of contiguous counties, a group of counties or civil divisions, or a group of urban census tracts in which residents have a shortage of health services. MUPs may include groups of persons who face economic, cultural or linguistic barriers to health care.
Additional information on Medicaid rates in Wayne county, take from MLive:
Plum Health DPC on WDET
This week, we ran an advertisement on WDET with the Corktown Business Association. I have been a long-time fan, listener and supporter of WDET and it’s one of the best places to advertise for our business because the people who listen to WDET are those who think and care deeply about Detroit and the issues facing the city.
Also, WDET does an excellent job of informing the public about important issues of the day and it’s a great platform for community-level information and journalism.
At Plum Health, we are addressing the lack of health care and primary care resources in the City of Detroit, and we know that this mission resonates with people who care about the city and its future.
As a part of the Corktown Business Association, we work with other business owners in the neighborhood to make it a better place to live, work, shop, eat, play, and be healthy. I’m proud to be in the Corktown Business Association and I’m glad we had the opportunity to tell the story about a wonderful place to be with vibrant businesses, Corktown Detroit.
Here’s the spot that we sponsored on WDET, with some images added from our archive:
Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful day,
Dr. Paul Thomas, Physician with Plum Health DPC
Plum Health at the Michigan Central Station
Yesterday was a momentous occasion - Ford Motor Company announced their purchase and their plans for the historic and beautiful Michigan Central Station. The Michigan Central Station has been abandoned since the mid-1980's, and it has been an eyesore on the Detroit skyline for the past 20 years.
The empty station had been an emotional thorn in the side, constantly nagging at Detroit, reminding Detroiters of their past prominence, but also standing as a signal of our post-industrial economic failures.
But all of those bad feelings have been erased after today's event. Now, there's a sense of pride that Detroit has an opportunity to remake this historic site in the best way possible. The event at the Michigan Central Station felt inclusive, as community leaders from several different sectors were invited to be seated on stage.
There's also the impending economic impact of having thousands of Ford Motor Company employees working out of the Michigan Central Station in about 4 years.
As a lover of Detroit, Detroit history, and architecture this was a great day for me. As someone who cares deeply about the health of Detroiters and the prosperity of the region, this was one of the best days for me.
I am hopeful that the benefits of having Ford Motor Company in Detroit will be felt and experienced by all Detroiters - employment and economic prosperity is a key to having great health.
As a physician and a family doctor in Southwest Detroit, with our office just two blocks behind the historic and now revitalizing Michigan Central Station, I'm excited for the future challenges and opportunities.
Thanks for reading and watching,
- Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Plum Health DPC is a family medicine practice in Southwest Detroit that delivers affordable, accessible healthcare. We remove the profit takers between you and your doctor, lowering the cost of healthcare. Our memberships are $10/month for children and start at $49/month for adults. This allows you to have contact with me, your doctor, any time you need me, as well as the ability to purchase wholesale medications and receive lab work at-cost. To start your journey with Plum Health, head over to our scheduling page: https://www.plumhealthdpc.com/schedule/
Family Doctor at the Open Streets Detroit Event
Last week I had the opportunity to be on the street level, talking with folks about health care at the Open Streets Detroit event! For those of you who don't know, Open Streets is a global movement. Cities across the country and across the world shut down their streets to cars and buses, and open them up to walkers, joggers, bikers, rollerbladers and community partners.
This year, I again participated as the "Ask the Doctor!" community partner. Last year I participated as well, but I wanted to make my area more interactive this year. So, I brought out a hockey net, a few sticks and I had people take a few shots on me. I've never been a great goalie, but it was a fun way to interact with folks in Corktown.
Our station was in front of the Michigan Central Station and I spoke with hundreds of people over the course of the day. There were thousands of participants, and the streets were filled with energy and vibrancy! I'm really looking forward to the 'next time,' but until then, enjoy some pictures of Open Streets Detroit 2017!
