Plum Health Blog
Discover Direct Primary Care: An Excellent Choice for Uninsured, Underinsured, and High Deductible Health Plan Holders - Detroit and Royal Oak
Dr. Raquel Orlich treats a Plum Health member
Are you a self-employed individual, uninsured, underinsured, or enrolled in a high deductible catastrophic health plan in the Detroit or Royal Oak area? Perhaps a plan from the Healthcare.gov marketplace? Plum Health DPC has a primary care solution designed just for you:
Embrace the Benefits of Direct Primary Care
Direct Primary Care is a membership-based healthcare model that emphasizes a direct relationship between patient and doctor. Here's why DPC with Plum Health is an excellent choice for you:
Affordability: DPC comes at a flat, predictable monthly fee, ensuring budget-friendly healthcare without the worry of surprise bills or meeting high deductibles.
Convenience and Accessibility: Located centrally in Detroit and easily reachable for Royal Oak residents, we offer extended office hours and same-day or next-day appointments.
Transparent Pricing: With DPC, you know exactly what you're paying for - no hidden costs, no complicated insurance bills.
Personalized Care: As a DPC member at Plum Health, you receive care that's tailored to your specific needs, perfect for self-employed individuals and those without traditional insurance who require flexibility.
Dr. Paul Thomas performs a child’s vision test in our Corktown location
Pairing DPC with High Deductible Health Plans and Healthshare Services
DPC at Plum Health pairs exceptionally well with high deductible health plans. While your insurance covers significant events, DPC takes care of routine healthcare needs affordably.
If you choose not to use insurance at all, there are alternatives like a medical cost-sharing or health share service, for wrap-around coverage. Health shares cover larger medical expenses outside the scope of DPC and even offers a 15% discount to members who have a DPC membership with Plum Health.
Join the Plum Health DPC Family Today
Join the Plum Health DPC family and start enjoying a fresh, personalized approach to healthcare. We're proud to serve uninsured, underinsured, and high deductible health plan holders in the Metro Detroit and Royal Oak, Michigan area. Ready to transform your healthcare experience? Reach out to learn more about our services or to book an appointment:
Please note: DPC is a membership-based model of care designed to cover up to 90% of a typical person's healthcare needs. It's not insurance but complements various insurance and health share plans to provide comprehensive coverage. This blog post is a general informational guide and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any medical condition or health concern.
Plum Health DPC Featured on CBS Detroit
Plum Health DPC: A New Era of Healthcare Delivery
Recently, Plum Health DPC, a direct primary care practice in Corktown, was featured on CBS Detroit, showcasing its innovative approach to healthcare delivery. The segment highlighted the many benefits of this new model, which is quickly gaining popularity among patients who are seeking a more personalized and cost-effective alternative to traditional insurance-based healthcare.
What is Direct Primary Care?
Direct primary care is a model of healthcare delivery that eliminates the middleman, i.e., insurance companies, and provides patients with direct access to their primary care physicians. In this model, patients pay a monthly membership fee to receive comprehensive, preventive care and access to their physician whenever they need it, without the need for insurance.
Benefits of Direct Primary Care
The benefits of direct primary care are numerous, including lower costs, improved access to care, and more personalized attention from physicians. With direct primary care, patients can see their physician at any time, without the need for appointments or copays, and receive the care they need, when they need it. Additionally, direct primary care physicians are incentivized to keep their patients healthy, rather than to perform tests and procedures, as is often the case in insurance-based healthcare.
Plum Health DPC: A Leader in Direct Primary Care
Plum Health DPC is a leader in the direct primary care movement, offering its patients a unique, affordable, and personalized approach to healthcare. With its state-of-the-art facilities and experienced physicians, Plum Health DPC is dedicated to providing its patients with the care they need to stay healthy and thrive.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the recent feature on CBS Detroit highlights the many benefits of direct primary care and the innovative approach of Plum Health DPC. With its cost-effective and personalized approach to healthcare, direct primary care is poised to become the new standard in healthcare delivery. If you're looking for a more affordable, accessible, and personalized alternative to traditional insurance-based healthcare, consider joining Plum Health DPC today!
Thanks for reading,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Dr. Paul Thomas on the Soul of Enterprise
Dr. Paul Thomas on the Soul of Enterprise
In February 2022, Dr. Paul Thomas was featured in an episode of The Soul of Enterprise with Ron Baker and Ed Kless. In the episode we discuss all things Direct Primary Care! and they plug my book, Startup DPC:
Dr. Paul WROTE THE BOOK on Direct Primary Care. It’s called Startup DPC. Ron recommends this book because you can learn a lot from Dr. Paul’s experience. Here’s the Amazon link.
Dr. Paul Thomas is a family medicine physician who started Plum Health DPC in 2016, right out of residency. He is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician.
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a model of primary care that is growing in popularity as an alternative to the traditional fee-for-service model. In a DPC practice, patients pay a monthly or annual membership fee for access to comprehensive primary care services. This fee typically covers all office visits and DPC practices offer at-cost medications, lab work, and imaging services to lower the cost of care for patients.
One of the benefits of DPC is that it allows for more time for the physician to spend with each patient. This is because DPC practices typically have fewer patients than traditional practices, which allows for more personalized care. Additionally, DPC patients often have direct access to their physician through phone or email, which can lead to quicker resolution of health concerns.
Another benefit of DPC is that it can help to lower healthcare costs for patients. By eliminating the need for insurance and reducing the number of unnecessary tests and procedures, DPC can save patients money in the long run.
Dr. Paul Thomas has been offering DPC services for the last 6 years and has seen positive results in the health of his patients. He believes that the DPC model allows for better continuity of care and a stronger physician-patient relationship, which leads to better health outcomes.
A big thanks to Ed Kless and Ron Baker for highlighting the work of Dr. Thomas and Plum Health DPC on The Soul of Enterprise!
-Paul Thomas MD with Startup DPC
Paul Thomas MD Featured in Michigan Academy of Family Physicians Magazine
Paul Thomas MD Featured in Michigan Academy of Family Physicians Magazine
A big thank you to the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians for featuring me and our family medicine colleagues with their recent cover story!
I love being a family medicine doctor - I get to take care of patients of all ages and stages, I get to manage a broad spectrum of medical conditions, and I get to build long-lasting relationships with amazing people in my community.
Family medicine is a medical speciality that requires 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, and 3 years of residency training. With this 11 years of training, we're Family Medicine specialists!
Here's my quote from the recent publication:
“Starting and growing a direct primary care practice has changed my life. I’ve been able to serve people in my community with a high value family medicine service, advocate for causes that I feel passionate about, and be creative in my approach to solving people’s healthcare challenges.
"In short, I’ve been able to become the doctor I’m meant to be. The direct primary care model simplifies healthcare delivery in that our patients are able to text, email, or call us anytime.
"This takes a lot of the anxiety and stress out of the healthcare experience and our patients can seamlessly access the care that they need, when they need it.” - Paul Thomas, MD (Detroit)
#PlumHealth #DirectPrimaryCare #FamilyMedicine #HealthCare #Detroit #PrimaryCare #FamilyMedicineSpecialty #MAFP #AAFP #Corktown
What kind of medical conditions do Family Medicine Doctors take care of?
Family medicine doctors are primary care physicians who treat a wide range of medical conditions in patients of all ages. This can include common conditions such as the flu, colds, and injuries, as well as chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma.
Family doctors also provide preventive care, including routine check-ups, immunizations, and screenings for conditions such as cancer and heart disease. In addition to treating physical health conditions, family medicine doctors may also provide care for mental health conditions and may coordinate care with specialists as needed.
Can Family Doctors take care of Mental Health Concerns?
Yes, family medicine doctors can treat mental health conditions. While they may not have the same level of training as a psychiatrist or psychologist, they are often the first point of contact for patients seeking help for mental health concerns. They can provide a range of services, including counseling, medication management, and referrals to specialists as needed. It is important to note that the specific mental health services provided by a family medicine doctor may vary depending on their training and experience.
Fortunately, our family medicine doctors at Plum Health DPC have robust training in primary care mental health concerns, like depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and others.
If you’d like this type of Family medicine service for yourself or for your family, you can sign up here:
Laceration Repair and Other Urgent Care Services at Plum Health DPC
Laceration Repair and Other Urgent Care Services at Plum Health DPC
At Plum Health DPC, we understand that accidents and injuries can happen at any time, and we are here to help our patients when they need it most. Our team is equipped to handle a wide range of urgent care needs, including laceration repair.
Lacerations, or cuts, can range in severity from small, shallow wounds to deep, jagged injuries that require surgical repair. No matter the severity of the laceration, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible to prevent infection and minimize scarring.
At Plum Health DPC, our team is skilled in laceration repair and can provide the necessary care to help our patients heal quickly and properly. Depending on the location and severity of the laceration, we may use sutures (stitches) or adhesive skin closures to close the wound. We will also clean the wound and provide any necessary antibiotics to prevent infection.
Furthermore, if you haven’t had a recent TDaP booster (a tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine), we will provide you with this necessary protection. If dirt or debris gets into the wound, tetanus can result. Getting the TDaP vaccine at the time of the laceration repair can prevent tetanus from occurring.
In addition to laceration repair, we also offer a range of other urgent care services at Plum Health DPC. These may include treatment for minor injuries, such as sprains and fractures, as well as management of acute illnesses, such as colds and flu.
If you or a loved one is in need of urgent care, don't hesitate to contact us at Plum Health DPC. Our team is here to provide the care you need, when you need it most.
Bring Your Pup to Plum Health DPC in Corktown!
Bring Your Pup to Plum Health DPC in Corktown!
If you're a dog owner living in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, you'll be happy to hear that your furry friend is welcome at Plum Health DPC! We love when people bring their dogs by for a visit, and we even keep treats on the front desk for them.
We understand that pets are an important part of many people's lives, and we want to make our practice as welcoming and inclusive as possible. That's why we're happy to accommodate dogs (and other pets) at our office.
In addition to the joy and companionship that pets bring, there is also evidence to suggest that interacting with animals can have numerous health benefits. For example, pets can reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve overall mental well-being.
So next time you're coming to see us at Plum Health DPC in Corktown, feel free to bring your furry friend along! We'll be sure to have some treats ready for them, and we'll do our best to make them feel at home.
The Benefits of Primary Care at Plum Health DPC
As a patient at Plum Health DPC, you have access to high-quality primary care that is focused on you and your specific health needs. But what exactly does primary care at Plum Health DPC entail, and how can it benefit you?
First and foremost, primary care at Plum Health DPC is personalized. Your primary care doctor gets to know you, your medical history, and your health goals, and works with you to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. This level of individualized care is especially important for managing chronic conditions and promoting overall health and wellness.
Another benefit of primary care at Plum Health DPC is the convenience factor. With same-day appointments available, you can easily schedule a visit to see your primary care doctor when it is most convenient for you. In addition, our telemedicine services allow you to have virtual visits with your doctor from the comfort of your own home.
At Plum Health DPC, we also prioritize preventative care. Your primary care doctor can help you identify potential health risks and work with you to implement strategies to prevent them. This can include screenings, immunizations, and lifestyle modifications to improve your overall health and reduce your risk of developing chronic conditions.
Finally, primary care at Plum Health DPC is more affordable than traditional fee-for-service models. With a membership-based model, you pay a monthly fee for access to primary care and other services, rather than paying for each individual visit or procedure. This can save you money in the long run, especially if you require frequent medical attention.
Overall, primary care at Plum Health DPC is an effective and convenient way to manage your health and prevent potential problems. If you are looking for a primary care doctor who truly cares about your well-being, consider becoming a member at Plum Health DPC.
Direct Primary Care Doctor in Detroit with Concierge Service
Direct Primary Care Doctor in Detroit with Concierge Service
Over the weekend, I made a house call to Ford Field.
Most of our house calls are to help regular Detroiters with the type of affordable and accessible health care services that we are known for at Plum Health.
If you don’t know about our direct primary care service, we offer excellent medical services at a monthly membership. We have an in-house pharmacy and we dispense medications, we offer a wide variety of procedures (biopsies, pap smears, toe nail removal, BOTOX), and we are able to draw labs and have the lab results back for our patients next day.
Most people use our Plum Health service because we can cut out the middle man and deliver a seamless primary care experience for an affordable price.
Every once in a while, we help a visiting executive, athlete, artist, or performer who needs our medical care and attention.
We have taken care of CEOs who require PCR testing with a rapid turnaround, we have taken care of artists who are visiting and who need help before an important gallery opening, and we’ve taken care of performers who need treatment before their big show here in Detroit.
These VIPs use our Plum Health service because we have the time in our schedule to accommodate their needs, we bring our medical care to them, and we give them a seamless experience without hassles. They might call it concierge medicine, but we prefer Direct Primary Care!
Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for considering Plum Health DPC for your health care needs!
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Plum Health DPC at Men's Health Event at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
Plum Health DPC at Men's Health Event at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
On Saturday October 8th, we were out at Ford Field for the Men’s Health event - we had a booth and we talked with men of all ages and backgrounds about the affordable and accessible health care services that we offer at Plum Health DPC.
We know that men face many health challenges - mental health concerns, high blood pressure, diabetes, colon health, prostate health, obesity, and so much more
We also know that having an excellent primary care doctor to help you navigate these issues can be transformative. That’s where we come in - to help, serve, and guide our patients through their health challenges so that they can live their best life.
Further, we had a lot of fun at the event! It’s great meeting up with other health care professionals, and it was even cooler meeting up with health care professionals at Ford Field! We were mostly on the concourse, be we were able to go down to the Detroit Lion’s field of play and kick a few field goals. Here’s one:
Paul Thomas MD in the USA Today
Back in 2013, Dr. Paul Thomas helped start an organization called Street Medicine Detroit.
Street Medicine Detroit is a student-run organization that delivers primary care medical services to homeless and uninsured people on the streets of Detroit, in parks and in church basements, warming centers and homeless shelters. Street Medicine Detroit is a lifeline for folks who are living on the streets.
Medical Students from Wayne State University School of Medicine run the Street Medicine Detroit program and deliver medical care and compassion to people who are homeless, unsheltered, or without permanent housing.
When I was a fourth year medical student at Wayne State University School of Medicine in 2013, I helped a second year medical student named Johnny Wong start the organization. We went on "street runs" to deliver medical care to homeless people.
During one of those runs, a journalist named John Wisely followed our work and wrote about it in the USA Today.
I've been reflecting about the meaning of our work at Plum Health DPC and it has deep roots in the advocacy and volunteering that I engaged in before, during, and after medical school.
I turned the newspaper article from the USA Today into a plaque that I hang in my office as a reminder to keep meeting people where they are at, to keep delivering compassionate care, and to keep striving to make health care affordable and accessible for everyone.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day.
- Paul Thomas, MD with Plum Health DPC
Plum Health DPC Started in 2016
Plum Health DPC Started in 2016
We started Plum Health DPC in November, 2016. We started by making house calls for our patients. We recognized a need for excellent primary care services in Detroit, and we strive every day to meet that demand. We have had great growth over the last 5 and a half years, and we’ve needed to grow and add more doctors.
Plum Health Grew into a Larger Office on Michigan Avenue in 2019
We decided to build out a new space in Corktown, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, on Michigan Avenue near Trumbull. We’re at “The Corner” or the property where the old Tiger Stadium used to sit. When Tiger Stadium was torn down, the ball field/baseball diamond was perserved as a field for Detroit youth sports via Detroit PAL or Police Athletic Field. The properties around the perimeter of the park became the building where our office is, which has 3 floors of apartments above 1 floor of retail. There are also condos on the perimeter of the old Tiger Stadium site going up on Trumbull avenue.
Anyways, here’s some old pictures from about October 2018 when we leased out our new space and it started construction to eventually become our office.
The construction finished in October 2019! Boy did we have to be patient, but once it was complete, we were ready to serve the community with an amazing primary care and health care experience.
We love practicing in this space, and now we’re coming up on 6 years in practice as Plum Health DPC and 3 years in practice at the Michigan and Trumbull or “The Corner” location.
This is such an amazing place to work and to serve patients and we get to fulfill our mission of delivering affordable and accessible health care services in Detroit and beyond!
Plum Health Continues to Thrive into 2022
Now, we have three amazing doctors - Dr. Raquel Orlich, Dr. Leslie Rabaut, and Dr. Paul Thomas - serving patients in Corktown, Detroit, and beyond. We take care of about 1,150 patients at this point. Our patients are of all ages and stages - pediatric patients, young adults, older adults, and geriatric patients. We take care of a variety of health care conditions - high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, asthma, physical exams for work, and so much more, too many conditions to list.
To celebrate and to say thank you, we are having a thank you party at the Congregation Detroit tonight at 5:30 pm. Join us!
-Paul Thomas, MD with Plum Health DPC
Plum Health Featured on Fox 2 News Detroit for Lowering the Cost of Insulin
Plum Health Featured on Fox 2 News Detroit for Lowering the Cost of Insulin
Yesterday, Plum Health DPC was featured on Fox 2 News Detroit for lowering the cost of insulin in Detroit and beyond.
MANAGING DIABETES IN DETROIT
Diabetes care can be difficult and expensive, especially if you’re uninsured. If you’re uninsured and trying to access diabetes care, patients can face the following costs:
$150 for a primary care visit
$150 to check hemoglobin a1c
$150 to check blood sugar via a comprehensive metabolic panel
$300 for insulin at the pharmacy
$10 for Metformin (Glucophage) at the pharmacy
At our Plum Health office, we dramatically lower the cost of these vital services to help our diabetic patients manage their blood sugar.
$55 to $75 monthly for as many primary care visits as it takes to manage your diabetes
$6 to check hemoglobin a1c
$6 to check blood sugar via a comprehensive metabolic panel
$0 for insulin at our Plum Health clinic as we get several free samples from industry
$0.30 to $0.60 for Metformin (Glucophage) at our Plum Health clinic
What makes this pricing difference even more important is that folks with diabetes need to check their hemoglobin a1c every 3 to 6 months to ensure that they are managing their diabetes effectively.
Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC being interviewed by Fox 2 News about the high cost of insulin in Detroit and beyond. People routinely pay $125 for 1 pen of long-acting insulin like Tresiba. At our Plum Health DPC office, we are able to get free samples so that the cost is $0 for our members at Plum Health. Our mission is to make health care affordable and accessible, and lowering the cost of insulin is just one way that we achieve that mission.
Here’s our social media post about Insulin Costs in Detroit:
These insulin pens are $125 a piece at your local pharmacy. 🤑 💰
They should be capped at $35 a piece, but that protection was removed by Congress this week. 🤯😭🤢🤮
Fortunately, we get free samples from industry to help our patients at Plum Health DPC ✅
Tune in to Fox 2 News at 6 pm with Veronica Meadows as we talk about what’s broken in our healthcare system and what we’re doing to fix it 💯
#PlumHealth #DirectPrimaryCare #FamilyMedicine #insulin #drugprices #healthcare
Here’s what Fox 2 News Detroit wrote on their webpage about the story:
FOX 2 - For those who have diabetes, many know the struggle of paying for insulin.
"This can be $125 per pen at the pharmacy," said Dr. Paul Thomas. "In the United States there’s seven million people who need to take insulin and 25 percent of those cannot afford the insulin, they need to manage their diabetes."
For Raphael Wright, that stress hits close to home. A Detroit entrepreneur — Wright says at first he didn't have health insurance. He says his out-of-pocket cost for insulin used to be around $300 a month.
"It was a punch in the gut, I did not feel good," he said. "I am on the fringe because now I'm worried about getting my lights cut out. You need electricity to keep insulin cold."
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) says starting in January the inflation reduction act will help more than three million in the US afford insulin.
"If you receive your health care through Medicare your insulin medicine will be capped your cost at $35 a month," she said.
But Senate Republicans stripped a provision that would have capped the price of insulin in the private marketplace. That cap also doesn't apply to people who don't have insurance.
"I think we should have a $35 cap for all Americans because there are a lot of people who are uninsured - they make too much money to qualify for Medicaid and not enough money to buy private insurance," said Dr. Thomas. "And even if you have private insurance your deductible could be $7,000."
Thomas is the founder of Plum Health Direct Primary Care in Corktown. He says thanks to free samples, his patients don't pay for insulin.
Thomas says his mission is to make healthcare accessible to everyone — especially diabetes patients. He says the results are devastating for those who are priced out of insulin.
"They’re going without, because of that high cost, and essentially this leads to really bad outcomes: Diabetic retinopathy which can cause blindness, diabetes does damage to your blood vessels, which can lead to early heart attacks and strokes," he said.
Thomas says diabetes is the number one cause of amputations and blindness in the United States. He says that is one more reason why insulin needs to be affordable for everyone.
Affordable and Accessible Health Care in Detroit
Affordable and Accessible Health Care in Detroit
At Plum Health, our goal is to make health care affordable and accessible in Detroit and beyond. We have a membership model for health care and our patients about $55 each month to $75 each month. Children pay $15 per month with an enrolled adult. When you’re a member of Plum Health, you can call, text, or email your doctor any time. You can come in for a visit anytime without a co-pay. Visits to Plum Health are included as a part of the membership. We also save people money on their medications and lab work. We buy medications at wholesale prices from AndaMeds, and then we sell these medications to our patients with little to no markup. This makes the medications that we dispense out of our practice much less expensive - sometimes 50% to 90% less expensive - than medications at the retail pharmacy.
Another way that we make health care more affordable and accessible is via house calls. As a physician, I make house calls for my patients. If our patients are in Detroit, we charge $100 per house call. If they live outside of the city, we may charge more to cover gas prices and time spent driving to the home that may be further away.
Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC makes a house call for one of his members at Plum Health. Dr. Paul drove out to their home on the West Side of the City to make the house call.
Reproductive Health Care in Detroit
Reproductive Health Care in Detroit
Abortion is a component of comprehensive medical care.
Healthcare decisions, including whether to have an abortion, are deeply personal and should be made between a patient and their physician.
The implications of today's Supreme Court decision are profound and will disrupt, and in some states, eliminate equitable and safe access to medical care for women and families in the United States.
This Supreme Court decision further threatens to exacerbate already unacceptably high maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the United States. (In 2018, there were 17 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the U.S. — a ratio more than double that of most other high-income countries. In contrast, the maternal mortality ratio was 3 per 100,000 or fewer in the Netherlands, Norway, and New Zealand.)
In Michigan, abortion rights are in question due to a 1913 law that prohibits abortion unless the procedure is "necessary to preserve the life of such woman.” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has made clear that she does not plan to charge anyone under the 1913 law, but County Prosecutors could potentially charge doctors and/or patients under the existing Michigan Law.
This is truly an unprecedented change that has created a lot of chaos and confusion for both patients and their doctors.
At Plum Health, we are committed to upholding the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship and to protecting women's reproductive rights by delivering evidence-based healthcare services.
Pragmatically, we will continue to offer oral contraceptive pills, birth control implants, IUDs, STD testing, Pap testing, HPV testing, beta HCG or pregnancy testing, Levonorgestrel (Plan B One Step or the morning after pill), referrals to doctors who prescribe mifepristone and misoprostol, and referrals to local abortion providers like Planned Parenthood and other board-certified obstetricians and gynecologists.
Additionally, we will continue to provide the high-quality psychiatric health care resources, referrals for behavioral health, a listening ear, and the emotional support that is needed as our patients and members of our community navigate these difficult decisions.
When women have the right to choose, they build healthier families and healthier communities.
The real-world impact of making abortion illegal
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the legality of abortion across the world actually has little to no effect on abortion rates throughout the world.
Legal or not, abortions can, will, and do take place. The legality of abortion, however, does affect how safe those abortions are.
Women who do not have access to a legal abortion frequently turn to illegal or "homemade" abortion options, which are typically much riskier, more dangerous, and less effective than legal options conducted by professional doctors in a clinical setting would be.
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Doctor in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Doctor in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Doctor in Detroit Michigan and she is accepting new patients at our Plum Health DPC office in Corktown, at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull. Here’s her most recent review from one of our patients in our Plum Health practice:
I am fairly certain Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a literal genius. At the very least she is incredibly well-versed in medical knowledge and unbelievably sharp in her ability to recall unusual causation and find correlative patterns. She deserves an actual prize. She is "the Doctor's doctor". If you're smart and tired of poor medical care, or work in the field, pick her. Pick her brilliant brain.
To become a patient of Dr. Leslie Rabaut, you can enroll in our service, here.
Plum Health DPC is a Family Medicine Practice in Detroit that is Accepting New Patients
Plum Health DPC is a family medicine practice in Detroit that is accepting new patients.
We have a family medicine clinic with three family medicine doctors and we are all accepting new patients into our practice. We see patients of all ages and stages and help our patients with a variety of medical concerns, like asthma, allergies, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, anemia, acid reflux, obesity, and so much more.
Leadership at Plum Health DPC
I have this grainy copy of a photo of a document above my desk that serves as a reminder about leadership and how I operate my business at Plum Health DPC. I look at it every day, and it helps me focus on how I conduct myself to create a successful organization. I thought I’d share it with you today!
Notes on Leadership, a reminder to myself:
1. Lead by example.
2. Lead by principles.
3. Surround yourself with great people.
4. Set clear goals and communicate them well.
5. Actions speak louder than words.
6. Know your business from the ground up.
7. Understand the business cycles of your industry.
8. Be entrepreneurial and nimble.
9. Don't be afraid to take risks.
10. Think long-term, despite short-term pressures.
11. Listen and respond to employees, customers, and stakeholders.
12. Learn from your mistakes.
13. Be an optimist.
14. Find balance.
Notes on Leadership at Plum Health DPC
How to Deal with Neck Pain in Detroit Michigan
How to Deal with Neck Pain in Detroit Michigan
A common musculoskeletal issue is “text neck” where we look down at our devices like tablets, phones, and computers throughout the day. This can stretch the muscles at the base of your skull and cause those muscles to spasm when they get over stretched.
My favorite modality for treating text neck is about repositioning our bodies and stretching our neck muscles gently twice daily. These twice daily stretches will keep your neck muscles loose and diminish spasming over time. The more consistent you can be with stretching, the better your improvement.
If your symptoms persist - if you have continued neck muscle spasming, you can try medications like NSAIDS or muscle relaxants. Of course, talk to your doctor before you use these medications to make sure that they don’t cause any stomach irritation or kidney damage.
It would be reasonable to try Ibuprofen 600 mg if you experience neck muscle spasms that cannot be controlled or that cause pain. Ibuprofen is an NSAID.
An alternative would be to take Flexeril (Cyclobenzaprine) 10 mg 1 hour prior to bed time - this is a prescription medication so please consult with your physician before using a medication like this. Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant and patients get relief when they use this medication as it relaxes skeletal muscles. But it cannot be taken within 8 hours of driving or operating heavy machinery as it causes drowsiness in some patients, so we have our patients take the medication 1 hour prior to bedtime.
Another alternative to neck pain treatment is osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) that would be given by an osteopathic doctor (a D.O.). These treatments take 15 minutes to 30 minutes and they can focus on relaxing/manually stretching the muscles in the neck. Our physician at our office, Dr. Raquel Orlich specializes in this type of therapy.
A combination of the above modalities would reduce the muscle spasms that you’re experiencing in your neck.
Thanks for reading and watching,
-Dr. Paul Thomas
How we manage Urinary Tract Infections at Plum Health DPC in Detroit
How we manage Urinary Tract Infections at Plum Health DPC in Detroit
At Plum Health DPC in Detroit Michigan, we help our patients with several different medical problems, from high blood pressure, to diabetes, weight loss, and urinary tract infections and so many more.
At our office, it costs about $3 to run a urinalysis and about $6 for a urine culture. If you’d like to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea, it costs about $23. We usually test for this as there can be overlap in symptoms for a urinary tract infection and a sexually transmitted infection. We also run a pregnancy test for free, to make sure that it’s safe to give antibiotics.
As for treatment of urinary tract infections, we typically use antibiotics like Bactrim (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) or Nitrofurantoin. The Bactrim is about $0.86 (86 cents) for a course of therapy and the Nitrofurantoin is about $2 for a course of treatment.
Thanks for reading and watching, and have a wonderful day.
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Pricing Changes for 2022
Plum Pack!
At this time, we are raising our prices for most of our membership tiers. These pricing changes will go into effect on March 1st, 2022. Our new pricing sets are as follows:
Children, 0 to 17 years of age: $15 per month (an increase of $5/month)
Adults, 18 to 39 years of age: $55 per month (an increase of $6/month)
Older Adults 40 to 64 years of age: $75 per month (an increase of $6/month)
Senior Adults 65 and up: $89 per month (no change)
We had to make this difficult decision because of several factors including the increasing complexity of the services that we deliver at our clinic and the rising costs of necessary supplies and equipment for our business.
For example, pre-pandemic, a box of 200 latex gloves would cost $9.95, now it costs $24.95 for that same box of gloves.
We remain committed to delivering affordable and accessible health care services. These price increases will allow us to continue to deliver excellent care and service.
We appreciate you for being a part of the service, and our unending thanks for being a part of the Plum Pack.
Sincerely,
Drs. Paul Thomas, MD Raquel Orlich, DO and Leslie Rabaut DO
Should you have questions, do not hesitate to call our office at 313.444.5630)