Plum Health Blog
Daily Detroit Podcast hits 1,000 Episodes
Daily Detroit Podcast hits 1,000 Episodes
This week, the Daily Detroit Podcast hits 1,000 episodes! That’s a lot of content! The team of Jer Staes, Randy Walker, and Shianne Nocerini are diligent and talented, and they put together insightful, informative, and entertaining shows each week day.
Over the years, I’ve been a guest a handful of times to discuss medical care issues, mostly relating to coronavirus and the COVID 19 pandemic.
Episode from April 5th 2021 on the big coronavirus spike in the spring
Episode from April 15th 2018 about our Plum Health DPC practice
I’m happy to contribute and very proud of what this podcast has accomplished!
Coronavirus Update for Detroit on April 5th, 2021
The house is on fire.
Michigan reported 8,413 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the state's total pandemic case count to 692,206.
There were 8,413 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday - we’re getting close to that big spike that we had around the holidays in November and December of 2020, and that’s not good news.
16,218 Michigan residents have died over the last 13 months from the Coronavirus.
Just because you're "over it" doesn't mean that Coronavirus will magically disappear.
We're all tired - we all want this to be over with.
But now is not the time for recklessness.
Be safe, be smart, mask up, keep your distance, and get the vaccine as soon as you can.
On the bright side, 31% of Michigan residents have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine, and 19% are fully vaccinated.
I was on Daily Detroit with Jer Staes talking about Coronavirus and why cases are skyrocketing here in Metro Detroit.
Listen here: http://www.dailydetroit.com/2021/03/30/the-house-is-on-fire-with-coronavirus-in-metro-detroit/
Or listen here:
Thanks for reading and have a great week. - Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Dr. Paul Thomas Featured on the Primary Care Cures Podcast
This week, Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC was featured on the Primary Care Cures podcast, hosted by Ron Barshop. The podcast focuses on the people who are making a difference in Primary Care - those who are fighting against burnout, physician shortages, bad models, and forced buyouts.
Dr. Paul Thomas was featured on Episode 25 of the Primary Care Cures podcast with Ron Barshop
This episode had a fairly wide ranging discussion on Direct Primary Care, here are the show notes:
How I found out about the Direct Primary Care model at 2:50
Direct Primary Care Doctors and Burnout and Burnout in the Fee-For-Service system at 3:30
The different Direct Primary Care Conferences, including the AAFP DPC Summit and Nuts and Bolts in Florida at 5:00
The difference between Direct Primary Care and the Fee-For Service Model at 5:45
If all Primary Care Doctors went into Direct Primary Care, would there be a primary care shortage or would the primary care shortage worsen? at 6:10
Can we make Primary Care Medicine more appealing for medical students and residents? at 8:40
The percentage of medical students choosing Primary Care residencies and the Match at 9:40
The Income of a Direct Primary Care doctor at 10:15
Employees in the Direct Primary Care model - are they more satisfied because they have a lower volume? at 11:50
Starting a Direct Primary Care practice straight out of residency - is this unusual? at 12:50
Telehealth and digital communication and how that interfaces with the Direct Primary Care model, as well as texting your doctor at 14:34
Plum Health on Daily Detroit
This week, we were featured on the Daily Detroit Podcast. It was great meeting up with Sven Gustafson and Jeremiah Staes, the journalists behind the publication, and hosting them in our office in Southwest Detroit.
You can listen to the full episode here:
Here's what Sven Gustafson wrote about our practice, in the context of the interview:
Dealing with health insurance is few people’s idea of a good time — if you can afford it at all, that is.
Now, a doctor operating out of an office in a former Detroit Police Department precinct headquarters? That’s flipping the script on the traditional model of health care.
On this episode of the Daily Detroit Happy Hour podcast, we schedule an appointment with Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health in Southwest Detroit. He’s practicing a model known as direct primary care in which patients pay a membership rate, starting at $10 a month for children and climbing to $89 a month for seniors, directly to the doctor. In exchange, patients get more personalized care, better access and lower-cost medications, imaging and laboratory services.
Dr. Thomas, who graduated from the Wayne State University School of Medicine, estimates he can cover 80 to 90 percent of most people’s health care needs. So he acknowledges it’s not a complete solution to our country’s problem-plagued health care system.
We talk to Dr. Thomas about how direct primary care works, how it differs from traditional insurance-directed health care and how it affects both patients and his life as a working physician. He also tells us about the various ways he’s using digital technology to facilitate his job and market his business.
Find us and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever fine podcasts are downloaded. Previous episodes are here.
Daily Detroit's tagline is "what to know and where to go in Detroit" - it's worth knowing more about Detroit, if you're a resident, a Metro Detroiter, or from another part of the world. Sven and Jeremiah cover interesting stories and give great insights, so their podcast is worth a listen/subscription.
Thanks for reading and listening, and have a wonderful day,
- Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
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