Blood Lead Level Testing for Children and Adults in Detroit

Blood Lead Level Testing for Children and Adults in Detroit

If you live an older home in Detroit, it’s a good idea to have yourself and your child tested for blood lead levels.

In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-based paint, but some states banned it even earlier. Lead paint is still present in millions of homes, sometimes under layers of newer paint. If the paint is in good shape, the lead paint is usually not a problem. If you live in an older home and you’ve had your home undergo renovations where lead dust may have been in the air, it’s reasonable to have yourself and your child tested for lead levels in the blood.

Generally speaking, it's recommended that all children be tested for high lead levels by ages 1 or 2, and children at higher risk for lead toxicity should get tested whenever there’s a suspicion for lead exposure.

All children covered by Medicaid are considered high risk for lead exposure (that’s why all children are tested at 12 and 24 mo).

• In Michigan, deteriorated lead paint is the #1 source of lead exposure.

• If a person has lead exposure during pregnancy or while breast feeding, lead can also enter their baby’s blood

• Homes built before 1978 or having renovations, repair work, or remodeling in the last 12 months confers a higher risk of lead exposure.

Plum Health in Crain's Detroit Business

This week, we were featured in Crain’s Detroit Business under a special section regarding the Caring for Kids radio program. Here’s the part about Plum Health DPC, our membership model family medicine service in Detroit:

Caring for kids: Advocating for the mental and physical care of children

On his monthly radio program, The Children’s Foundation President and CEO Larry Burns talks to community, government and business leaders about issues related to children’s health and wellness. 

Guests for this discussion were Dr. Stephen Bloom, Medical Director of Rehabilitation, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Rehabilitation, Ann Arbor; Dr. Paul Thomas, Family Medicine Doctor, Plum Health DPC; and David Coulter, County Executive, Oakland County.

The hourlong show typically airs at 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month on WJR 760AM. Here’s a summary of the show that aired December 31st; listen to the entire episode, and archived episodes, at yourchildrensfoundation.org/caring-for-kids.

Larry Burns and Dr. Paul Thomas discuss Plum Health DPC

Larry Burns: Plum Health DPC (Direct Primary Care) is the first practice of its kind in Detroit and Wayne Country. Tell us more about your mission.

Dr. Paul Thomas: We believe that health care should be affordable and accessible. We’ve lowered the cost of health care and allowed people to be more proactive in taking care of themselves. With this direct care model, my patients—or members—pay me directly. It’s $10 a month for kids and then it starts at $49 a month for adults. They can come see me any time they need to. They also have my cell phone number so they can call or text me anytime.

Burns: What might a parent get for that $10 kid membership?

Thomas: You have a doctor on call for you. You might send me a photo of a rash and I could walk you through that. Or you might be concerned about an ear infection and I’d want you to come in to be seen for that. Or you have your well visit.

Burns: If somebody has insurance can they still be a member?

Thomas: Yes. We see people who are uninsured, under-insured, and fully insured.

Burns: What are the membership advantages for adults?

Thomas: Again, you have me on speed dial. We also do in-house labs and medications for all of our patients at significantly lower cost. For example, for a cholesterol panel at the hospital, you might be charged $100; at our office it’s $6. Or, if you came in to manage your blood pressure and you’re taking Lisinopril, that tablet might be $10 at the pharmacy for a one-month supply. At our office it’s 1 cent per pill, so your blood pressure medications now cost 30 cents a month.

Burns: How’s the practice going?

Thomas: We initially launched in 2016 as a house call practice. I had a small office in Southwest Detroit with about eight members. We’ve now grown to about 580 members. We hired a second doctor to help with the demand and we moved into a larger office in Corktown.

Burns: What is in the future for Plum Health?

Thomas: We want to continue to grow and bring on a new doctor perhaps every year to meet the demand. There are only 100 primary care physicians practicing in Detroit for 600,000 residents. That’s one doctor for every 6,000 residents. If you go north of Eight Mile into Oakland County there’s one primary care physician for every 600 residents. That’s a 10x disparity in primary care access.

Burns: How can someone become a member?

Thomas: Go to plumhealthdpc.com.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day, - Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC

This week, we were featured in a special section of Crain’s Detroit Business.

This week, Paul Thomas, MD of Plum Health DPC was featured in Crain’s Detroit Business with Larry Burns, CEO of the Children’s Foundation.