Plum Health Blog
Dr. Raquel Orlich is a Family Medicine Doctor in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Raquel Orlich is a Family Medicine Doctor in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Raquel Orlich is a family medicine doctor and she has been practicing with our clinic, Plum Health DPC, in Corktown Detroit for the past 2 years and 8 months. She provides excellent, compassionate care for our patients at Plum Health and delivers comprehensive care for all of her patients.
Dr. Raquel Orlich is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Board Certified in Obesity Medicine. She loves helping her patients with musculoskeletal issues via the use of Osteopathic Manual Medicine (OMM), she enjoys engaging in women’s health care issues, and she enjoys addressing overweight and obesity issues as she helps her patients lose weight and become healthier.
Further, Dr. Raquel Orlich’s patients love the care that she delivers. This is best captured by a recent Google review from one such patient:
By far the best in health care I've ever dealt with. I was only a patient here under a year, but I gleaned so much info and confidence in my health journey. I moved to another state and am constantly wishing I could just hop in to Plum! I saw Raquel Orlich specifically, and she was a joy as well as being supremely comfortable, knowledgeable and communicative. Every test was returned with detailed results so I was never once confused or doing my own research or guessing at how to correct the issue. She always heard me out and was willing to explore even if I was wrong. I was never brushed off and I usually left feeling confident. Chris was amazing and so welcoming as well and made all the labs a breeze. I'd honestly stand outside with a sandwich board on waiving cars into the parking lot like H&R block in tax season if they wanted me to. 🤣 They are so worth it.
Further, Dr. Orlich has been with us for 2 years and 8 months, so she knows many of the resources available to patients here in Detroit and beyond. This allows her to guide patients to the best care options and reach their optimal health.
Thank you Dr. Orlich for all that you do for our clinic and our patients!
The above photo was taken in March 2019 - Dr. Orlich was completing the last few months of her residency program and she was coming by to pick up a fresh new white coat and her new business cards. This was an exciting moment and it was so great to welcome her as part of our Plum Health team.
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Physician Accepting New Patients in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Physician Accepting New Patients in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Physician Accepting New Patients in Detroit Michigan - she is an excellent physician who delivers excellent care for her patients and the broader community. We are lucky to have her as a part of our service here at Plum Health DPC.
With that being said, she has about 261 patients at this time, and she has garnered that number of patients over the last 1 year. Dr. Rabaut started at our clinic on February 1st, 2021, and through the pandemic, she has gained 261 patients. She takes care of a diverse group of people from many different backgrounds.
Dr. Rabaut will likely cap at 400 to 500 patients so that she can maintain this high level of care, service, and excellence for her patients. Dr. Rabaut will likely reach a full panel in 6 months to 12 months from this time, so if you’re looking for an excellent direct primary care doctor, please sign up to be one of Dr. Rabaut’s patients sooner than later, before her panel is full.
Our patients love Dr. Rabaut and they have given her high praise on our Google Review site. Here’s the most recent review for Dr. Rabaut:
Ohhh, the healthcare system. What an interesting collection of institutions! I wish more places were like Plum Health though. For a couple years, I was stuck with an insurance company that didn't have great PCPs and then had some job changes, which basically made relying upon insurance a complicated process. I remembered Plum Health from Demo Day and decided to reach out.
Absolutely loved the attention that I received from Dr. Rabaut. After having an experience with a PCP who rushed through my appointments and didn't actually listen to what I was saying about my own body, my experience with Plum Health was a breath of fresh air.
Here’s another review for Dr. Rabaut:
I have been Dr. Rabaut's patient for about a year now, and I have to say that she is HANDS DOWN the best doctor I have had. I email her dumb (and not so dumb) questions all the time and she always emails me back right away. Even on a Saturday. She is approachable and honest. When she listens, she is actually listening. I will be lucky if I get to be under her care for a very long time.
And here’s another recent review for Dr. Leslie Rabaut:
I have never had a visit to the doctor like this before. I have always had terrible amxiety going to the doctors. Here I didn't have to wait at all to see the doctor. Dr. Leslie Raubart came in and talked with me for 45 minutes!! (At my last doctor I would be lucky if I got 10 mintues) She was amazing and you can tell she truly cares. She is very good at asking you the right questions and getting all the details. When my blood results came back, she emailed me a very detailed message explaining what supplements and a plan of action for the future. I am so glad to have found this.
In summary, Dr. Leslie Rabaut is an excellent family medicine physician and she is accepting new patients at our Plum Health DPC office in Detroit, Michigan.
Dr. Paul Thomas Talks Direct Primary Care on the Powers Report Podcast
This week, Dr. Paul Thomas was featured on the Powers Report Podcast. In the podcast Dr. Thomas and Janis Powers talk about the pros and cons of Direct Primary Care.
Janis Powers talks in depth with one of direct primary care’s (DPC) most committed practitioners, Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC. In this episode, Dr. Thomas gives some great examples of the benefits of DPC, describing his in-depth relationships with patients. Powers also probes some of the challenges of scaling DPC, given the exclusivity of both insurance and provider networks in America.
In our opinion, Direct Primary Care solves so many challenges in the primary care system. Direct primary care addresses long wait times to see the doctor and the inflated cost of care.
Direct primary care is different than concierge medicine. Direct primary care is a monthly membership for health care and it usually costs about $50 to $89 monthly. With DPC, patients are not required to carry insurance, although most members have some form of insurance coverage. Concierge Medicine is billed annually and usually costs $2,400 per year. Concierge doctors require a premium health insurance coverage to expedite referrals and minimize prior authorization requests. In the past, our blog has covered this in depth, here.
In the podcast, we discuss how we’re able to save our patients 50% to 90% on medications, lab work, and imaging services. We buy medications at wholesale and pass on the cost savings to our patients, we draw blood at cost and pass on the savings to our patients, and we have found local imaging centers with very affordable cash-pay rates for services. This cost savings can make a big impact on folks with a limited income and limited access to high quality health care resources. We were recently featured on Channel 7 Action News about how we save money on prescription meds.
Thanks for reading and listening, and have a great day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Coronavirus Update and Vaccine Side Effects with Dr. Jamie Qualls and Dr. Paul Thomas
Coronavirus Update for January 26th, 2021
Today, Dr. Paul Thomas and Dr. Jamie Qualls of Plum Health DPC discuss the Coronavirus pandemic and what’s happening in Detroit and Southeast Michigan with regard to the Coronavirus.
There have been 551,080 cases of Coronavirus in Michigan and there have been 14,326 deaths from coronavirus. In context, losing that many people to COVID 19 is like losing the entire population of Rochester with a population of 13,162, Wixom with a population of 13,902, or Harper Woods with a population of 13,895.
Age Groups Affected by the Coronavirus
The age group with the highest number of cases are those between 20 and 29 years. There have been about 103,956 cases in this age group and 54 deaths. The age group with the highest number of deaths are those 80 years old or older. In those 80 years of age or older, there have been 27,327 cases and 6,675 deaths.
The death rate among the elderly in Michigan is staggering. If you are 80 years of age or older and you are infected by the coronavirus, there’s about a 24% chance of dying from COVID (6,675 deaths among 27,327 cases).
That’s why it’s so important that the elderly (those 75 years of age and older) are prioritized for vaccine access.
Coronavirus Vaccines Administered (So Far)
So far, about 19 million first doses have been given out in the United States and about 3 million people in the US have received both doses of the COVID 19 vaccine. In Michigan, about 730,000 vaccines have been administered. You can dive into the nitty gritty at the Michigan Coronavirus vaccine dashboard.
Coronavirus Vaccine Side Effects
With the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, there is understandably much apprehension about its potential side effects. According to the CDC, some of the most common side effects reported are pain and swelling at the region of injection, as well as fevers, fatigue, chills, and muscle aches. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html)
The CDC recommends taking an over the counter medication like ibuprofen or Tylenol to reduce the discomfort of these side effects. It’s also recommended to drink plenty of fluids and get adequate rest. Most of these side effects resolve on their own within a few days. These side effects are likely a result of your body responding to the vaccine and mounting an immune response, which is a sign that the vaccine is doing its job (https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/coronavirus-vaccine-side-effects/).
Side effects from the COVID vaccine may cause recipients to miss a day or two of work, but typically resolve without further intervention.
Cough, shortness of breath, rhinorrhea, sore throat and loss of taste or smell are not typical following vaccination. If you develop these symptoms, the CDC recommends staying home from work pending evaluation for possible causes including COVID-19.
There have been reports of people developing a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine. The CDC recommends seeking immediate medical attention in the event of an allergic reaction. It is important to keep in mind that these reactions, though serious, are relatively rare, seeing as tens of thousands of people have been vaccinated without severe reactions. (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7002e1.htm)
Finally, it’s important to recognize that side effects from all vaccines are common. The seasonal flu shot, for example, can cause fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, amongst other vaccines. The important thing is to weigh the temporary discomfort of such side effects to the long term benefits: a potentially high level of protection from a disease that has killed more than 1.6 million people globally.
Final Thoughts
As always, wear a mask, wash your hands, maintain a minimum of 6 feet of physical distance between yourself and others, and limit unnecessary travel, trips, and crowded areas.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week,
-Dr. Paul Thomas and Dr. Jamie Qualls of Plum Health DPC
I Love Direct Primary Care
I love Direct Primary Care.
What is Direct Primary Care?
It’s not concierge.
It’s not insurance-based care.
It’s not a referral source for the hospital systems.
It doesn’t inflate the cost of care.
It doesn’t let people slip through the cracks of the health care system.
It’s affordable and accessible.
It’s comprehensive and compassionate.
It’s personable and reliable.
You can visit in person with your own doctor, for an hour if you need the time.
You can call, text , FaceTime, or email with your doctor.
You can communicate via Messenger or Instagram.
It’s medical care and a real relationship with an independent physician who truly cares about you and your family.
I love Direct Primary Care because it’s how primary care is supposed to be delivered.
Plum Health DPC Ribbon Cutting - One Year Later
On December 12th, 2019, we had a fabulous event at our Plum Health DPC office in Corktown - we officially cut the ribbon and opened our space on Michigan Avenue to the surrounding community.
Our patients, friends, families, neighboring businesses, community leaders, members of the news media, and Mayor Mike Duggan were on hand to make it a very special occasion.
This space serves us so well - it holds all of the medications that we need for our patients, it holds all of the equipment like EKGs that we need for patient care, it houses all of the laboratory equipment and blood draw supplies that we need to lower the cost of lab work for our patients.
One year later, our only regret is that we didn’t build a larger office! The only thing we’re missing is a little more space to accommodate more doctors and therefore serve more patients.
That aside, we look back on December 2019 with a big smile for the fond memories, as it marked the beginning of something great, and that is to serve our patients and the broader community with affordable and accessible healthcare services.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas, Dr. Raquel Orlich, Dr. Jamie Qualls, and Medical Assistant Chris Lake with Plum Health DPC in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Raquel Orlich and Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC gather with members of the community to celebrate the ribbon cutting of Plum Health DPC in Detroit, Michigan. The office is at 1620 Michigan Ave, Suite 125, Detroit, Michigan 48216.
Dr. Raquel Orlich is a Family Physician in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Raquel Orlich is a Family Physician in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Raquel Orlich is a family medicine physician in Detroit, Michigan. She takes care of a broad range of conditions out of her office in Corktown Detroit. She’s building a reputation as an excellent primary care physician and family medicine doctor. One of her patients recently left a glowing review on Google:
I have been a patient at Plum for a little under one year now. Since the moment I was greeted at the door by Chris, I felt very welcomed and comfortable. Changing doctors can sometimes be scary because you hope they have your best interest at heart, but sometimes that doesn't always end up being true. That is not the case with Plum Health. Dr. Raquel is hands down the best Dr. I've ever had (and I've had a lot). She addressed every issue and concern with meticulous solutions. Dr. Paul was also very attentive any time Dr. Raquel was away. What I love most about Plum Health is how you can text or call them at all hours if the matter is urgent or if you have random health questions. They respond in a timely manner, it's awesome. I would recommend Plum Health to every person who does not have access to health insurance. It's the next best thing. OH! Getting your prescriptions at wholesale price saved me a lot of money which was a huge plus!
Raquel Orlich, DO is a Family Medicine Doctor Accepting New Patients
Currently, Dr. Raquel Orlich is accepting new patients at her office in Corktown Detroit. She takes care of people from Detroit and the surrounding communities, including Royal Oak, Ferndale, Southfield, Dearborn, Taylor, Redford, Southgate, Grosse Pointe, and many more.
In the above photo, Dr. Raquel Orlich is using an osteopathic manual medicine technique - she uses her hands to help people with musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. If you’d like to see Dr. Raquel Orlich, you can schedule an appointment with her, here.
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
This Detroit Doctor's Office is Open For Business
Plum Health DPC is Open in Detroit’s Corktown Neighborhood
We have been continually working and continually serving our patients during this time. We are proud to do this work and proud to be making health care more affordable and more accessible in Detroit and beyond. Everyday, we work diligently to deliver excellent care and service to our patient and we work diligently to lower the cost of health care in our community.
We are a family medicine practice and our staff includes myself, Dr. Paul Thomas, and my practice partner, Dr. Raquel Orlich, DO. We are both Board Certified in Family medicine and we take care of patients of all ages and stages here in Detroit and beyond. Many people ask us if you have to live in Detroit to be a member of our practice, but you should know that we see patients from all across Metro Detroit and the State of Michigan.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas MD with Plum Health DPC
Dr. Paul Thomas Interviewed on Mix 92.3 with Cheron
This week, we had a great interview with Cheron of Mix 92.3 about our direct primary care services here in Detroit Michigan.
We're at Plum Health in Detroit's Corktown Neighborhood and we operate a membership model for health care. Our members pay $10 each month for children, and it starts at $49 each month for adults. With that membership, our patients can call, text, or email us anytime.
Our members at Plum Health also have access to 50 to 90% savings on medications, lab work, and imaging services. A big thanks to Cheron for the great interview!
- Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Osteopathic Family Medicine Doctor Accepting New Patients in Detroit
Osteopathic Family Medicine Doctor Accepting New Patients in Detroit
Dr. Raquel Orlich is an Osteopathic Family Medicine Doctor who is accepting new patients in Detroit, Michigan. She finished a successful first week at Plum Health DPC, our Family Practice office in Southwest Detroit. She has already been able to incorporate Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine techniques with some of our patient’s treatment regimens. Click here to read more about Osteopathic Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine for musculoskeletal concerns.
Dr. Raquel Orlich using her hands to apply an Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Treatment to one of her patients.
Dr. Raquel is excited to have started at the practice and she is eager to continue to meet new folks of the community. If you or someone you know needs a primary care doctor, Dr. Raquel is accepting new patients. Click here to learn more about Dr. Raquel and her medical interests.
Which Conditions do Family Medicine Doctors Treat?
Family Medicine physicians are the cornerstone to health maintenance and illness prevention. Family medicine physicians can provide annual wellness exams. Routine annual physical exams are important to address age related cancer screening tests, to evaluate for preventable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and discuss other lifestyle choices that may be affecting your overall health such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and inactivity.
Family medicine doctors can address up to 90% of your health concerns. They can manage and evaluate health concerns that arise such as the common cold, heartburn management, back pain, ankle sprains, and many others. They can also manage chronic medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma.
Family medicine doctors may also offer simple procedures in the office such as laceration repair (sewing up small to medium-sized cuts), knee joint injections, abscess drainage, wart removal, ingrown toenail removal, skin biopsies, and many more.
Why it’s Important to Have a Family Doctor
Detroit is a Health Professional Shortage Area, meaning that there are too few Family Doctors and Primary Care Doctors for the number of Residents in Detroit. There’s roughly 1 primary care physician for every 6,000 Detroit residents. Compare that to 1 primary care physician for every 600 residents in Oakland County, and you find that Detroit has a 10x disparity in access to primary care.
What’s more, An increase of one primary care doctor per 10,000 people has been shown to result in a 5% decrease in outpatient clinic visits, a 5.5% decrease in hospital admissions, a 10.9% decrease in ER visits, and a 7.2% decrease in surgeries.
Why? Because primary care physicians like Family Medicine Doctors are experts at taking care of people in a cost-effective way. Family Doctors are able to treat conditions in their early stages before they become worse or more complicated. For example, if you work with your family doctor to lower your blood pressure, this could prevent a heart attack or a stroke in the future.
How to Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Raquel
To make an appointment with Dr. Raquel, head over to our scheduling link and select her as your doctor. After you submit the information, Dr. Raquel will reach out and offer appointment times.
Thank you for reading and have a great day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas and Dr. Raquel Orlich with Plum Health DPC
Family Doctor Accepting New Patients in Detroit Michigan
During the busy days and weeks of the year, sometimes we forget to make one thing clear - we are a family medicine service in Detroit, Michigan and we are accepting new patients in our family medicine clinic.
Family Doctor Accepting New Patients in Detroit Michigan
My name is Dr. Paul Thomas and Plum Health DPC is a family medicine clinic in Southwest Detroit and we are accepting new patients. As a family medicine doctor, I take care of patients of all ages and stages. This means that I can take care of children or pediatric patients as well as adults.
What We Treat
We treat a broad range of conditions, from the acute care concerns like sore throats to coughs and colds as well as influenza. We also treat high blood pressure, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Additionally, we perform procedures like Pap tests, skin lesion removal and biopsies, as well as rapid strep test, rapid influenza testing, and rapid mono testing.
Why We Are Different
We are different because we're available, affordable, and accessible. Our service is just a click away, so don't hesitate to send us a note here or through any of our other social media channels.
Thank you so much for reading and watching, and have a wonderful day!
– Dr. Paul Thomas, M.D.