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.

Detroit Doctors Cut the Ribbon on a New Corktown Office with Mayor Duggan

Plum Health DPC Cuts the Ribbon on Corktown Office with Mayor Duggan

DETROIT (Dec. 14, 2019) – On Thursday, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), Mayor Mike Duggan and community members of Corktown joined Motor City Match (MCM) awardee Dr. Paul Thomas at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of his Direct Primary Care practice, Plum Health DPC.

The Ribbon is Cut with Mayor Mike Duggan, Paul Thomas, MD, Raquel Orlich, DO, and Chris Lake, medical assistant at Plum Health DPC in Corktown, Detroit.

Photo Credit to Nadir Ali at https://www.3andathird.com/

Plum Health DPC has expanded its presence in Detroit, moving into a new 1,700 square foot retail space at The Corner - a mixed-use development on the site of the former Tiger Stadium at Michigan Avenue and Trumbull.   

The health care office, previously located in Southwest Detroit, moved to Corktown after a significant increase in demand for Plum Health’s innovative services. The new location in Corktown allows for a much larger, more tailored, and community-oriented space with easy access for patients.

Mayor Mike Duggan speaks about Plum Health DPC and the importance of primary care services in Detroit with Paul Thomas, MD and Raquel Orlich, DO.

Photo Credit to Nadir Ali at https://www.3andathird.com/

“It is crucial for Detroit residents to have access to healthcare facilities in their communities without having to travel outside of the City,” said Duggan. “We are thankful to Dr. Thomas for his commitment to the wellness of Corktown and nearby residents. I’d like to encourage more health care providers to open throughout the City so that Detroiter’s are able to receive the medical services they so richly deserve.” 

Wayne State University School of Medicine alumnus, Clinical Assistant Professor, and Plum Health DPC owner Dr. Paul Thomas started his business as a house-call only practice in 2016, recognizing the need for affordable and accessible healthcare in Detroit. His physical practice began in a one-room office located inside the Detroit School of Digital Technology, at the former Third Precinct police station in Southwest Detroit. At peak capacity in the old location, Dr. Thomas and his team were serving roughly 500 patients.

“We believe that health care should be affordable and accessible for everyone, and we are very grateful to our many community partners for assisting us in expanding our services, and therefore access to vital primary care resources,” said Dr. Thomas. “First we need to thank our patients for trusting us with their health care. Next, we need to thank Mayor Mike Duggan, the Motor City Match Program, the DEGC, Quicken Loans Demo Day, TechTown’s Retail Boot Camp, and the Build Institute. So many people and organizations have helped us get to where we are today.”

Today, Plum Health DPC has expanded to a team of two physicians, adding Dr. Raquel Orlich, a graduate of Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, to the practice in July 2019. The two physicians and a newly-hired medical assistant currently serve 600 patients out of the Corktown office.

Dr. Raquel Orlich greets Mayor Mike Duggan at Plum Health DPC in Corktown, Detroit. Paul Thomas, MD and other members of the Detroit business community look on.

Photo Credit Shawn Lee at https://www.shawnleestudios.com/

The expansion also enables Plum Health to add a third physician to their team in the future, providing the center with the means to serve more than 1,500 patients in Detroit and beyond. It’s convenient location in the growing and bustling Corktown neighborhood and its low-cost membership model are further addressing Detroit’s primary care shortage.

"From the first moment I met Dr. Thomas I knew his business reflected the genuine values of the Corktown community as well as our efforts to embrace small, local, innovative, Detroit businesses," said Eric Larson, President/CEO of Larson Realty Group. "I am thrilled to welcome Plum Health to The Corner."

Plum Health’s move to Corktown and the build-out for their new space was supported by a $50,000 grant from Motor City Match and a $50,000 award from Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day. Plum Health has also received technical support from TechTown and Build Institute.

“Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day exists to bring capital and exposure to businesses in Detroit – especially those with innovative products or services that are creating amenities and jobs in the city. Seeing Plum Health deploy that capital to scale their operations and serve more patients is exactly the kind of outcome we hope for,” said Lauren Hoffman, Director of Entrepreneurship, Quicken Loans Community Fund.

Plum Health DPC uses a membership model for healthcare, charging patients a monthly fee, and billing them directly for specific services. Dr. Thomas said that by eliminating insurance claims for primary care services, he can offer his patients an up to 90 percent reduction in costs. For example, while a hospital might charge $3,000 for an MRI, Dr. Thomas charges only $297 for the same service. A $150 Comprehensive Metabolic Panel costs $6 at Plum Health; a $10 pharmacy charge for blood pressure medication is only $0.36 for patients there.

“Winning an MCM space and cash award allowed Dr. Thomas to build a world-class primary care office in an underserved neighborhood,” said Batton. “With high local demand for the professional health services Plum Health provides, this business is positioned for success and future growth. MCM is pleased to support business owners like Dr. Thomas who are committed to Detroit’s residents and neighborhoods that are providing the type of services that create long-term stability in communities.”

Plum Health’s new location at 1620 Michigan Avenue serves patients of all ages from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. Those interested in the innovative subscription service, a full list of included procedures, and pricing can find more information here.

Dr. Paul Thomas addresses the media at the Plum Health DPC family medicine office in Corktown, Detroit.

Photo Credit Shawn Lee at https://www.shawnleestudios.com/

Media Contact:

Paul Thomas, MD | 313.444.5630 | paul@plumhealthdpc.com

Plum Health DPC, 1620 Michigan Ave, Suite 125, Detroit, MI 48216

About Plum Health DPC

Plum Health DPC is a Direct Primary Care service that is the first of its kind in Detroit and Wayne County. The family medicine service has a mission of delivering affordable, accessible health care in Detroit and beyond. This is achieved through on-time appointments, same-day/next-day appointments guaranteed, and 50- to 90-percent savings on procedures, medications, labs and imaging services. Plum Health DPC is located at 1620 Michigan Ave., Suite 125, Detroit, MI 48216. The hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To learn more, visit www.plumhealthdpc.com or call 313.444.5630.

About Paul Thomas, MD

Dr. Paul Thomas is a board-certified family medicine physician practicing in Corktown Detroit. His practice is Plum Health DPC, a Direct Primary Care service that is the first of its kind in Detroit and Wayne County. His mission is to deliver affordable, accessible health care services in Detroit and beyond. He has been featured on WDIV-TV Channel 4, WXYZ Channel 7, Crain's Detroit Business and CBS Radio. He has been a speaker at TEDxDetroit. He is a graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine and now a Clinical Assistant Professor. Finally, he is an author of the book Direct Primary Care: The Cure for Our Broken Healthcare System.

About Raquel Orlich, DO

Dr. Raquel Orlich, DO is a board certified family physician. She is excited to join the mission of bringing affordable and accessible health care to Detroit. She is passionate about quality patient-centered care and establishing strong doctor-patient relationships. Her clinical interests include osteopathic manipulative medicine for chronic musculoskeletal issues, women’s health, and preventative health. She is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency training at Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital.

About Direct Primary Care

The direct primary care (DPC) model gives family physicians a meaningful alternative to fee-for-service insurance billing, typically by charging patients a monthly, quarterly, or annual fee (i.e., a retainer) that covers all or most primary care services including clinical, laboratory, and consultative services, and care coordination and comprehensive care management. Because some services are not covered by a retainer, DPC practices often suggest that patients acquire a high-deductible wraparound policy to cover emergencies.

Direct primary care benefits patients by providing substantial savings and a greater degree of access to, and time with, physicians. Taken from the American Academy of Family Physicians website: https://www.aafp.org/practice-management/payment/dpc.htm

About Motor City Match

Motor City Match is a unique partnership between the City of Detroit, DEGC, the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (EDC) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Through 16 rounds, the program has granted $7.75 million in cash awards and leveraged a total investment of $42 million in Detroit neighborhoods. MCM also awards support in space, business plan, design and building categories. Competitive financial assistance is supported by a broad partnership of Southeast Michigan community development financial institutions and corporations. Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) is a non-profit organization that serves as the lead implementing agency for business retention, attraction and economic development initiatives in Detroit.