Guy Gordon Discusses Direct Primary Care on WJR

Today, Guy Gordon and Senator Patrick Colbeck discussed Direct Primary Care and the potential impact that it can have on the health and wellness of Michigan residents as well as the sustainability of the Michigan economy. The discussion was held on WJR News Radio (AM 760).

My name is Paul Thomas, M.D. and I am a family medicine doctor practicing in Southwest Detroit. I believe that healthcare should be affordable and accessible for everyone. I also believe that we can achieve this goal through direct primary care medicine.

It is a dream of mine to see and help more family doctors and primary care physicians transition from the fee-for-service model of healthcare to the direct primary care model. This will allow more doctors to deliver compassionate, truly patient-centered care with transparent pricing in our great state of Michigan. 

To this end, I will be speaking at the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians statewide conference in mid July in Kalamazoo, Michigan about this very topic.

Thanks so much for reading and watching, and have a wonderful day!

– Dr. Paul Thomas, M.D.

Plum Health on Jibs Podcast

This week Plum Health DPC was featured on Jibs Podcast, hosted by Jibran Ahmed. On the podcast he will be interviewing movers and shakers in the Detroit community and discussing topics that can move the city forward. 

From Jibran: "I'm hoping to create a platform that showcases the entrepreneurs, creatives, and hustlers that are moving Detroit forward. In order to make Detroit the city of the future, it's important to share with the world that this city embodies gusto, grit, and innovation."

During our conversation we talked about Plum Health and it's origin story. We also talk about why it's important for business people to build relationships in the community and how those early relationships can translate into a prosperous business.

We dove into the difference between Direct Primary Care and traditional or fee-for-service medical practice and discussed why more doctors aren't practicing in the DPC model of care. We also highlight the many community resources in the Detroit ecosystem that enable businesses in the City and region to thrive. 

Thanks for reading and watching!

- Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC

Last Day For Open Enrollment

Hello all! It's December 15th and the last day to sign up for health insurance. Health insurance is different from Health Care. What I provide at Plum Health DPC is health care - visits with the doctor, wholesale medications, at-cost labs, convenience, etc...

But you also need health insurance - this is a financial tool to protect you from bankruptcy in case of major accidents, illnesses, or injuries. If you have cancer, a heart attack, a stroke or are involved in an auto accident, you need health insurance to cover these costs.

The best way to get health insurance? Go to HealthCare.gov and choose a plan that's right for you. 

Thanks for your time, thanks for reading and watching! And, sincerely, if you need help with this, give me a call!

- Dr. Paul 313.444.5630

Volunteer Doctor at Tour de Troit 2017

One of my favorite events in Detroit is the Tour de Troit, a friendly 25 mile bike ride through Detroit and some of its beautiful neighborhoods. For the last 5 years, I've been participating as a volunteer medic, starting during my medical school training and continuing through residency, and now as a doctor. 

I love the ride because I get to see so many people who I know! There are so many people and businesses that support this ride and who make it a really special event. From the Great Lakes Coffee that's served with food from the Detroit Institute of Bagels, to the lunch after the ride from local restaurants, to all of the people from the community who come out and either volunteer or ride. It all adds up to a great time. 

Biking is also a super healthy way to see the city, and during the ride we have police barricades and police escorts, so it makes for a very safe environment for everyone who participates. A big thank you to the Detroit Police Department for keeping everyone safe again this year!

When I talk about health, I'm not only talking about physiological health, but also social health - I believe that events that bring together people from different communities and backgrounds can serve to strengthen our region and make us better. That's why I love Tour de Troit, because it is this space where people from across Metro Detroit come together. For future events in this same vein, check out Slow Roll or Open Streets Detroit. 

It's always a great ride, but it comes with a few injuries every year. This year the head count was about 7,000 riders and we had a handful of accidents and injuries to attend to throughout the day. There were about 20 of us medical volunteers, mostly medical students, and we delivered basic first aid for riders after minor injuries. For more major events, Emergency Medical Services were used. 

So, with fall and cooler weather fast approaching, make it a point to get out today, tomorrow, and the next day on a bike ride or a walk or a run - this is a great time to be active and healthy, and your body, mind, and spirit will thank you for the effort. 

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!

- Dr. Paul with Plum Health

How to Quit Smoking in Detroit

The adult smoking rate in Michigan is 20.5%. So, of the Michiganders over the age of 18, roughly 1 in 5 are smokers and that translates to 1,557,000 smokers in the State of Michigan. Among the United States, Michigan has the 9th highest smoking rate among adults.

This is unfortunate because there are many adverse effects of smoking, from increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes to increases in the rates of head and neck cancers and lung cancers. 

However, there are effective treatments that can help you quit smoking, and once you quit smoking many health benefits can be realized, from lowering your blood pressure to decreasing your risks of cancer. 

This week, I've had a few people ask for help in terms of smoking cessation, and I am happy to provide that type of help. In fact helping people to quit smoking has some of the best patient-oriented evidence in medicine. Full stop. 

Logistically, I would have you come in for an appointment. We would talk about where you are - pre-contemplation, contemplation, or ready to quit aka "quit mode". Then we'd review your medical history, current medications and any pertinent health-related issues. We would then formulate a treatment plan based on you as an individual.

In the person discussed in this video, we used Zyban or Wellbutrin or Bupropion (all different names for the same medication). This is effective in reducing the cravings that people feel for cigarettes. Then, we set a quit date. This is 1 week after starting the Zyban (bupropion).

After the quit date is reached, nicotine replacement therapy is used to tamp down hour-to-hour cravings. This can be in the form of a patch or gum or lozenges. Again, we personalize the method based on your preferences. 

Let me know if you'd like to start your journey to better health with Plum Health, you know that you can reach me through our contact page or by phone, 313.444.5630.

Sincerely,

Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC

Plum Health out at America's Future Foundation Event

This week I was invited to speak at an America's Future Foundation meetup in Detroit. It was held at the Detroit Beer Company and the topic of discussion was free market healthcare. I was there representing Plum Health DPC and one of my colleagues, Chad Savage, MD of YourChoice Direct Care was there as well. 

We talked for an hour about free market options for healthcare services in Detroit and Michigan, specifically Direct Primary Care. It was a great event and the audience members asked some great questions.

For example, people often ask about the difference between Direct Primary Care and Concierge Medicine. I wrote a blog post where I discussed the differences in detail, but in a Concierge Medicine Model, doctors charge a membership fee that is often greater than $100/month, continue to bill insurance for visits, and they do not typically offer money-saving ancillary services. 

In contrast, Direct Primary Care doctors have membership fees in the $10 - $100/month range, do not bill insurance companies for services rendered, and typically offer money-saving ancillary services, like wholesale medications, at-cost labs and at-cost imaging. 

Another common question about Direct Primary Care is about the legality of the practice. In 2014, Senator Patrick Colbeck spearheaded an effort in the Michigan Legislature to make Direct Primary Care "legal" in the State. I place "Legal" in quotation marks because it was not illegal before, but a grey area. Senate Bill 1033 of 2014 clearly defines Direct Primary Care and similar retainer-based medical services as legal in the State of Michigan.

Another common question is "how is this possible?", in reference to the savings on medication, labs and imaging services. As in, where does all that extra money go between the insurance-based prices for services and the direct prices? I often give examples of how I save my members on their meds, labs and imaging, and the attendees at this talk asked specifically about how I was able to save on these services.

It starts with wholesaling the medications and setting up contracts with independent retailers for lab services and imaging services. This way, we can negotiate at-cost pricing for services that you may need. These are often based on volume, so the more people who demand these services, the lower the overall costs. Then, I am not paying any middle men between these ancillary services and you the consumer. I do not mark up the prices on my meds, labs, or imaging services, because I want to provide you with the greatest amount of value for your healthcare dollar. 

There were several other questions, but I will stop here! Again, it was a great meet-up and I'm looking forward to their next event! They have several chapters across the country, so you can see when and where their next events are happening on their Facebook page, just click "events".

- Dr. Paul with Plum Health DPC http://www.plumhealthdpc.com/

Medicaid Pilot Program in Michigan

Last week, we met up with Senator Patrick Colbeck in Lansing along with other legislators like State Representative Ned Canfield and other Direct Primary Care Doctors like Chad Savage of YourChoice Direct Care. 

Currently, the State of Michigan spends 1/4 of the State Budget on health care programs like Medicaid. What I'm advocating for is better primary care and preventive services that create value for people in our State, that decreases costs over the long term by providing better care on the front end. The British say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and by focusing more on primary care and prevention, I believe that we can take better care of our neighbors and save the State of Michigan money, money that can then be used to fix our infrastructure and spur economic growth and activity in our state. 

Pragmatically, it may start with a Medicaid pilot program. Instead of giving Medicaid money to insurance companies to manage patients, that money is given directly to primary care doctors on a monthly basis to care for a panel of medicaid patients. The onus is then on the primary care doctor to provide excellent health care services for their community members and create more value and better health outcomes at a lower cost. I believe that this type of arrangement will allow for more holistic care, better access for patients, better outcomes, and cost savings. 

I am excited about the prospect of this work and happy that we have some courageous leaders in this State who are willing to address these difficult problems head on. 

Thank you so much for reading,

- Dr. Paul with Plum Health DPC

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

The Importance of Primary Care

Primary care is essential to having a healthy family, healthy community, and a healthy society. You may know a primary care doctor, like your Family Medicine doctor, General Internist, Pediatrician, or Gynecologist. These are the doctors that partner with you to create better health outcomes. 

There's been a great deal of research conducted about the benefits of having community doctors or primary care doctors. In an article from the American Academy of Family Physicians, it is noted that "an increase of one primary care doctor per 10,000 people has been shown to result in:

• 5% decrease in outpatient visits
• 5.5% decrease in inpatient admissions
• 10.9% decrease in ER visits
• 7.2% decrease in surgeries"

Further, counties with more primary care doctors have lower healthcare costs and better mortality rates. MLive.com wrote a nice piece about the importance of primary care doctors and they even have a tool so that you can evaluate how many primary care docs are in your community. In Washtenaw County, there's a primary care doctor for every 598 residents. In Cass County, there's a primary care doctor for every 7,463 residents. 

Washtenaw County is likely saturated with primary care doctors because it encompasses Ann Arbor and the U of M Health System. From the MLive.com article, "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration has calculated that Michigan's supply of primary care physicians meet 63.3 percent of the population need." That means about 63% of the state is serviced with enough primary care providers. 

Unfortunately, Detroit itself is underserved. There are roughly 50 - 100 primary care doctors in Detroit for roughly 680,000 residents. That's roughly 1 doctor for every 6,000 - 12,000 residents in the City of Detroit. 

If you were to look at the data for Wayne County, which includes Detroit, Dearborn, Inkster, the Grosse Pointes, etc..., you would see that there's 1 doctor for every 1,515 people, which is a relatively equitable ratio. However, when you look closer at the distribution of physicians in Wayne County, you will see that several are concentrated in wealthier suburbs like Grosse Pointe and Dearborn. This leaves places like Detroit and Inkster underserved. 

The black dots on this map indicate the locations of licensed physicians. While there are a good number of doctor's offices in Wayne County, the distribution of these offices is skewed with a higher concentration of offices in Dearborn and Grosse Pointe than in the City of Detroit itself. This image was a part of a larger presentation given by former Detroit Health Department Director and now Candidate for Governor of Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed. In case you were wondering, the yellow stars indicate pop-up clinics planned by the City of Detroit Health Department to distribute contraceptives. 

One of the several reasons why I've started Plum Health in Detroit is to address the health disparities and access to care issues that are currently facing the City. Because we provide our services, medications, labs, and imaging at such an affordable price, we are able to care for people of all socio-economic strata. This allows us to aspire to a more just and equitable health care system, and it starts with excellent primary care. 

Finally, I want to inspire high school students, college students, medical students at Wayne State University, and current Family Medicine residents to practice Family Medicine in a Direct Primary Care practice or traditional fee-for-service model in the City. We need excellent primary care doctors for our community to be healthier and to address the health disparities in our city. 

Yours in Good Health,

- Paul Thomas, MD

Primary care is essential to having a healthy community and a healthy society. In this episode, we explore the importance of having a primary care doctor who can help you stay healthy! You can find out more about Plum Health at http://www.plumhealthdpc.com/

Volunteering at Cass Clinic

Volunteering in the community is an important part of what I do as a doctor. I enjoy helping medical students learn the basics of primary care and serving the community in this way.

This week, I'm at Cass Clinic for their Saturday Morning clinic. It's in Detroit's Midtown Neighborhood and they serve people without insurance, who are homeless, living in drug rehab centers or otherwise vulnerable.

I am grateful that the Wayne State University Medical Students continue to care for the community in this way as they run this clinic without much outside help. If you want to donate medication, bathroom supplies, or hats, gloves, and socks, there's a donation link on their webpage - www.cassclinic.com.

Additionally, I volunteer at the Student Run Free Clinic on the East Side of Detroit at 5555 Connor Ave, just south of I-94. I volunteer at the SRFC once a month and at Cass Clinic about once a month as well. 

I have been volunteering at the Cass Clinic since about age 17. I grew up attending a Methodist church and I was looking for unique volunteer opportunities. I came across the Cass Clinic as it is a part of the Cass Community Social Services, which is a Methodist organization. When I started volunteering, I worked with Medical Students at WSU SOM as they took care of patients in this setting. Watching these young medical students was an inspiration, and from that point on knew which medical I wanted to attend - Wayne State! 

In Detroit, just like in many communities, the needs are great. I know that a few half days a month will not save the world, but these small actions do make a big difference in the lives of the patients that we serve. 

Thanks so much for reading and watching!

- Paul Thomas, MD

February Update

Hey everybody! It's February 2nd and time for an update about our services and a little bit of an overview about what we do. January was our first full month of operation in a brick-and-mortar space and we were able to have 20 new members join the practice! We are currently located at 1759 West 21st Street, Detroit, MI.

What makes them want to join? First it's our dedication to great service. When you make an appointment, you typically get 1 hour of uninterrupted time with me, Dr. Paul Thomas. We talk about your medical history, review any records that you bring, perform a physical exam, draw any blood samples if necessary and give any medications if necessary.

The great thing about our Direct Primary Care model is that we get these labs at-cost and the medications at whole-sale prices. Our lipid panel is about $7 and our Comprehensive Metabolic Panel is about $4. Our current price for Azithromycin or a "Z-pak" is $1.15. We sell Lisinopril for about $0.40/month. Yes, you read that correctly! Forty cents for a one month supply of Lisinopril. 

I give Flu shots for $10.53, Hepatitis A vaccine for $68.42, Tetanus Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis (TDaP) vaccine for $47.47. Our price for Metformin is $0.40/month if you take 1 pill each day and $0.80/month if you take 2 pills each day. I recently dispensed Augmentin for a skin infection for $4.82. 

If you're interested in this type of care: more time with your doctor, clear and consistent pricing, the ability to have easier communication with your doctor via text and email, you should sign up for our services.

You can either call 313.444.5630 to set up an appointment or enroll on our website, here.

Thank you for watching and reading, and have a great day!

- Paul Thomas, MD

An Interview with Dr. James Blessman

Today, I attended the monthly Wayne County Medical Society meeting. There were several topics discussed and my mentor Dr. James Blessman brought up an upcoming lecture. Dr. Joel Fuhrman will be at the Detroit School of Arts on February 2nd, 2017 at 6 pm (doors at 5 pm). There's more information at this link. Full video of the interview is below!

During the meeting at the Wayne County Medical Society of Southeast Michigan, several topics were discussed. Currently, the Detroit Public School system stresses abstinence first in their curriculum. This does not mean that the DPS teaches abstinence only, so a group of Medical Students from Wayne State University School of Medicine came to the meeting to clarify the curriculum and obtain the Medical Society's support. 

Additionally, the Medical Society discussed burnout and health habits among physicians, the recent increase in Hepatitis A cases in Wayne County, and the recent publication of a Human Trafficking Awareness video. As for the Hepatitis A, you can receive a shot for $10 via the Wayne County Health Department in Wayne, Michigan. At Plum Health, we wholesale the Hepatitis Vaccine for about $70 and in the insurance world, coverage varies depending on which private insurance company you use.

Dr. Blessman also brought up Joel Fuhrman, MD and his upcoming lecture at the Detroit School of Arts on 123 Selden Street in Midtown. The event will be held on February 2nd at 6 pm. Dr. Fuhrman is a leading thinker in the area of medical nutrition, with several best-selling books on the subject. He has been noted to say that the foods that you should eat include the "GBOMBS", or Greens, Beans, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries, and Seeds. The main point is that you want to have more micronutrients in the foods that you consume. 

Thanks for reading, and watch the video below!

- Paul Thomas, MD

Plum Health + Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency can be a big problem in the winter months, especially if you live up in Michigan! At Plum Health, we delivery direct primary care services, meaning that we can get you wholesale medications and at-cost laboratory services, including Vitamin D Levels and Vitamin D supplements.

You should have a vitamin D level of 20 - 50 ng/mL - some experts in the field recommend 20 - 40 ng/mL as the appropriate range, others recommend 30 - 50 ng/mL as the best range. However, experts agree that a Vitamin D level of less than 20 ng/mL can lead to problems with skeletal health. 

Having a sub-optimal vitamin D level can lead to osteoporosis, an increased risk of falls and possible fractures. Additionally, having a low vitamin D level can put you at risk for immune problems and cardiovascular problems. 

We make vitamin D in our skin, and this production is aided by sunlight. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) noted that "humans typically obtain 90 percent of vitamin D from sunlight".  Unfortunately, because of low sunlight levels in the winter, our Vitamin D production ceases in temperate areas like Detroit, Edmonton, and Boston.

Furthermore, you are at an increased risk of having low vitamin D levels if you are sedentary, if you have dark skin, if you are obese, if you are over 65 years of age, or if you take medications that alter Vitamin D metabolism, like steroids or seizure medications. 

So, unless you are a young, active snowbird, it is wise to take a vitamin D supplement to offset your lost productivity in the winter months. According to the AAFP, a 3.5 ounce piece of fresh, wild-caught salmon has roughly 600 - 1,000 international units of vitamin D. Other sources of dietary vitamin D include tuna with 230 IU's for every 3.6 ounces consumed and milk at 100 IU's for every 8 ounces consumed. 

If you'd rather get your vitamin D in pill form, Vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol comes in doses of 400, 800, 1,000 or 2,000 IU's. These can be purchased over the counter, but it is best to talk to your primary care doctor before deciding on which dose is appropriate for you.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Paul Thomas, MD, Family Medicine doctor in Detroit, Michigan 

Our Pitch at TechTown Detroit

This Tuesday, we are pitching at TechTown Detroit's Retail Boot Camp showcase! This event is at TechTown on 440 Burroughs Street in Detroit's New Center neighborhood. It will take place from 5:30 - 9:00 pm on Tuesday evening. Event details are on Facebook. 

For the past 3 months, I have been participating in TechTown's Retail Boot Camp Program. Taking the course has helped me a great deal in formalizing my ideas and processes related to my business. I'm now at the point where I'm ready to open my brick-and-mortar business, Plum Health DPC.

This video is our 90 Second Pitch that we will be giving live on Tuesday night. You can read more about our services here and sign up for services here. 

Thanks for reading and watching our video, and I hope to see you at the TechTown Retail Boot Camp showcase on Tuesday night!

- Paul Thomas, MD

Making Healthcare Hassle-Free

Plum Health is the first Direct Primary Care practice in Detroit, Southeast Michigan and Wayne County. It makes healthcare hassle-free. We diagnose, treat, refill prescriptions, refer you to curated specialists, and make all of the frustrations in healthcare disappear.

Because you have a doctor who is available and responsive, you never have to worry about being on your own or trying to figure out if something’s terribly wrong. People sometimes get scared and rush to the hospital, but a $6,000 ER visit can be financially devastating.

One avoided ER visit pays for 10 years of care at Plum Health DPC. Plus, you get peace-of-mind, knowing your doctor is always available. To schedule an appointment, check out our scheduling link. To find out more, or if you have questions, call 313.444.5630.

- Paul Thomas MD

Removing the barriers between you and your doctor. 

The Basics of Direct Primary Care

Direct Primary Care is a relatively new idea, so it is worth discussing the founding principles. 

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is an innovative alternative payment model for primary care being embraced by patients, physicians, employers, payers and policymakers across the United States. The foundation of DPC is an enduring and trusting relationship between a patient and their primary care doctor.
 
Empowering this relationship is the key to achieving superior health outcomes, lower costs and an enhanced patient experience. DPC fosters this relationship by providing excellent customer service.
 
In terms of customer service, the health care system in the United States has failed. There are so many frustrations from the perspective of a customer: long wait times to get an appointment, long wait times at the office, unresponsive doctors, as well as confusing and unclear pricing. 

Direct Primary Care addresses these shortcomings of the fee-for-service system head on. When you enroll in a DPC practice, you will have your doctor’s cell phone number, email address, and the assurance that you can have a same-day or next-day appointment, guaranteed. 

In addition, DPC enables unhurried interactions – you won’t feel like you’re being rushed out the door with your DPC doctor. These extended visits allow for discussions to assess lifestyle choices, behaviors, and treatment decisions that maximize long-term health and wellbeing. 

How is this possible? Direct Primary Care doctors typically limit their practice size to 500 members. This relatively small panel size allows doctors to be committed to their patients, to deliver excellent customer service. 

To become a member of Plum Health Direct Primary Care in Detroit, Michigan, check out our contact page, here. 

- Paul Thomas, MD

Plum Health Direct Primary Care for Employers

Direct Primary Care is an exciting alternative to the traditional fee-for-service model. This is true for individuals, but especially true for small, medium, and large businesses. 

To the employers and HR personnel of the world, Plum Health can provide comprehensive family medicine services to your employees for a low monthly cost. Imagine having a doctor that your employees can call, text, or email at anytime. Your employees can also visit our doctor anytime without a copay.

We believe that this increased responsiveness and availability can reduce down-stream costs. We also believe that your employees will be more proactive about their health when they don't have to pay a co-pay. For example, we treat simple bladder infections in the office before they become pyelonephritis in the ER, coughs and colds before they become pneumonia.

There are several benefits to enrolling in a Direct Primary Care plan. Here are three of the big ones for employers:

1.) Decreased Absenteeism

By offering efficient and convenient care, we can reduce employee absenteeism. Because there is very little wait time to see the Doctor, simple ailments are caught before they become bigger problems.

2.) Reduced Medical Expenses

Every time that we prevent a visit to the Urgent Care or the Emergency Department, we save you hundreds and thousands of dollars. To optimize your value, we recommend pairing our services with a high-deductible, low-premium insurance plan.

3.) Attracting and Retaining Talent

By offering a health care plan that is a meaningful benefit to your employees, you can leverage recruitment. We know the high quality care that we are capable of delivering, and your employees will appreciate these services. 

To find out more, call us at 313.444.5630.

- Paul Thomas, MD

The Doctor-Patient Relationship

Taking care of our members, our patients, our customers is at the heart of our business. When we think about our logo and when we think about a Plum, we think of two overlapping circles. At Plum Health DPC, there is more overlap for our patients and our doctors than in the typical or traditional model of care. 

This greater overlap is intentional. We build deep relationships with our patients, which helps us identify and treat the root cause of an illness or ailment. Our relationship helps us maximize engagement, patient experience and satisfaction. 

Pictured is an alternative logo for Plum Health DPC, one that we considered carefully because it exemplifies that principle of greater overlap between doctor and patient. 

- Paul Thomas, MD

So, Why Plum?

When people talk with us, they often ask: "So, why Plum?"

For us, a Plum is healthy. It fits in your hand. It's purple. It's simple. It's two overlapping circles.

A Plum is a healthy food, and at Plum Health DPC we know that taking better care of yourself begins with what we eat and how we move. The choice of a Plum is inspired by bike rides to Eastern Market, and finding those healthy foods. At Plum Health, we can direct you to healthy resources throughout Detroit and Metro Detroit.  

A Plum is simple, it fits in your hand, and you can take it with you. At Plum Health DPC, we have set out to simplify health care for our members. We aim to eliminate the frustrations in the fee-for-service system like waiting too long to see your doctor, confusing billing, and co-pays.

You can also take our services with you. Say you're traveling and something comes up, we can help to guide you through whatever problems you face. Maybe it's talking you through a head cold, reviewing a management plan, or sending a medication that you forgot at home to the pharmacy nearest you. 

A Plum is purple. At Plum Health DPC, we proudly serve and welcome people of all backgrounds. All ages, stages, races, ethnicities, and orientations are welcome. Additionally, our price points for individuals are less than a typical cell phone bill. Our price points for families are less than a typical cable bill. This allows us to serve people of all income levels. 

Finally, a Plum can be drawn with two overlapping circles. To us, this symbolizes the doctor - patient relationship. At Plum Health, there is more overlap in the relationship between doctor and patient. We believe that having a closer relationship with your doctor can allow you to live a healthier and happier life.  

- Paul Thomas, MD

Plum Health DPC, challenging the status quo for healthcare in Detroit

The status quo in Primary Care is not good enough. We shouldn't have to take a half day off of work to see our doctor for ten minutes. We shouldn't be confused by billing. It shouldn't be so hard to get an appointment or talk with our doctor. 

At Plum Health DPC, we believe in challenging that status quo. We believe that you shouldn't have to wait for your doctor, but that your doctor should wait on you. We believe that you should be able to text or call your doctor anytime. We believe in clear and consistent pricing.  

We think differently about healthcare and its delivery because we want happy members with easy access to our services. We deliver a healthcare product that is affordable, easy to use, and well designed. 

Start your journey to better health with Plum Health. Direct. Primary. Care.

- Paul Thomas, MD