Plum Health Blog
Raquel Orlich DO is a Detroit Doctor who is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine
Raquel Orlich DO is a Detroit Doctor who is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine
Dr. Raquel Orlich is Board Certified in Family Medicine and she is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine. Dr. Orlich helps people in our practice lose weight and keep it off with an evidence-based approach. This is just another way that we're making comprehensive health care affordable and accessible at Plum Health DPC.
Dr. Raquel Orlich is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine and Family Medicine. She helps patients lose weight via an evidence-based approach to care.
Rates of Obesity in Detroit
The rate of Obesity in Detroit is 38%, that means that more than 1 in 3 Detroiters are Obese. The rate of Obesity in the State of Michigan is high as well, and it leads to early heart attacks and strokes, as well as an increase in the risk of diabetes. Here’s some striking findings from a recent report from the Michigan Department of Community Health:
Michigan had the 8th highest prevalence rate of obesity in the United States in 2008.
In 2008, 65.3% of Michigan adults were either overweight or obese; 35.2% were overweight and an additional 30.1% were obese.
Blacks had a significantly higher obesity rate (39.8%) than whites (28.8%).
Obese adults had a higher prevalence of arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart attack, diabetes and inadequate sleep compared with non-obese adults.
Obese adults also reported the highest prevalence of poor life satisfaction, poor general health, poor physical health, poor mental health and activity limitations compared with non-obese adults.
This is why it’s so important to take an evidence-based approach to weight loss via healthy eating and healthy exercising. If we continue to grow heavier as a society and as a community, the weight-related comorbidities will cause big problems for our overall health - physical, psychological, and emotional.
If you’d like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Raquel Orlich, you can do so here.
Congrats to the WSU SOM Class of 2021!
Congrats to the Wayne State University School of Medicine Class of 2021
Congrats to the Wayne State University School of Medicine Class of 2021 as they become Doctors this week! It takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in any given field of study, and these new graduates have definitely put in the time over this 4 year journey and course of study. We wish you the best as you embark on Transitional Years, Internship, Residency, Fellowship, and your practice years beyond these years of additional training.
What it takes to become a Family Physician
For those of you unfamiliar with medical education, to become a board certified family medicine physician, it takes four years of undergraduate or college study, four years of medical school training, and at least three years of residency training. That comes out to 11 years of higher education after high school to become a board certified family medicine physician.
At Plum Health, we’re incredibly lucky to work with a team of four board-certified family medicine doctors. To learn more about our team, check them out here.
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
Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC Featured in the Save Summer 2021 Campaign
We all want to get through this COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible. The best tool that we have at this time is the Coronavirus vaccine. A group of ambitious and vocal young adults and college students are working to get their peers vaccinated so that Summer 2021 can go off without a hitch. If everyone gets vaccinated, we’ll be able to have more graduations, concerts, get togethers, and celebrations while we minimize the risk of transmitting the virus. Check out their important work at Save Summer 2021!
Paul Thomas MD of Plum Health DPC is a Build Institute Graduate
This week, we were featured by the Build Institute as a notable alumnus - we started growing our business via the Build Institute and related Detroit small business ecosystem. There are so many resources in Detroit and beyond for budding entrepreneurs, and Build Institute is among the best of the bunch.
Three Excellent Family Physicians in Detroit Michigan Accepting New Patients
Detroit Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Paul Thomas MD, Raquel Orlich DO, and Leslie Rabaut DO are family medicine doctors accepting new patients in Detroit, Michigan. Their practice is called Plum Health and they see patients using a membership model for health care. Patients pay a low monthly fee to be a part of Plum Health, and with that membership, receive excellent primary care services.
Patients can come into the office whenever they want to be seen - we guarantee a same-day or next-day appointment for our Plum Health members. We also offer easy communication, with phone calls, text message, and email access to the doctors.
To see what all the buzz is about, you can enroll yourself, your family, or your small business into the Plum Health service via this link.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week!
The Doctors at Plum Health DPC are Raquel Orlich DO, Paul Thomas MD, and Leslie Rabaut DO. They are all board certified family medicine physicians and they are all accepting new patients.
Connect with Dr. Paul Thomas on LinkedIn
If you’d like to connect with Dr. Paul Thomas on LinkedIn, follow this link:
Dr. Leslie Rabaut of Plum Health DPC is also an Artist
Dr. Leslie Rabaut, Physician and Artist
Some doctors have a creative streak and Dr. Leslie Rabaut has a fantastic talent for painting. She has been engaging in art and the fine arts since a young age, and she recently entered a painting competition via the Grosse Pointe News. Here’s her entry:
Artwork by Dr. Leslie Rabaut, entitled “Entranced by the Michigan Woods”
When asked about her broad color palette in her works, she says “My paintings are an expression of how beautiful nature can be if we are truly looking.” The art work is on display at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial at this time, from May 6th to June 3rd, 2 pm to 6:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
From her Facebook page:
Hey guys..so funny thing but I somehow found my way into the Grosse Pointe News art contest.
If you are a subscriber to the Grosse Pointe News, please show some love and throw me a vote! Apparently you can also sign up for a 1 week subscription and vote (how deep is our friendship? lol)
Vote online at :
www.grossepointenews.com/art/vote
Voting ends online This Saturday May 15th!
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Doctor in Detroit Michigan
Leslie Rabaut, DO, is a board certified family medicine physician in Detroit. She practices high quality care that is individualized to each patient. Her interests include functional medicine, preventative medicine, and integrative therapies that work with a patient’s natural physiology to encourage healing. She enjoys working with patients on lifestyle factors that impact health and disease, such as stress, sleep, physical activity, nutrition, and social relationships. She believes in working together with patients as a team to help them achieve their personal health goals. Dr. Rabaut is fluent in Spanish and English.
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a board certified family medicine doctor in Detroit, Michigan. She works in Corktown at Plum Health DPC.
Thanks for reading and have a great day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Coronavirus Vaccines in Pregnancy
The Coronavirus Vaccines are Safe and Effective in Pregnancy
First, I want to say that the coronavirus vaccines are safe and effective in pregnancy. There’s a great research article from the New England Journal of Medicine followed over 35,000 pregnant women and revealed the following, “Preliminary findings did not show obvious safety signals among pregnant persons who received mRNA Covid-19 vaccines.”
In this video, I talk with a mom who was in the process of deciding whether or not to get the coronavirus vaccine, but ultimately decided to get vaccinated. We talk about the pros and cons of the vaccine, the difference between the Johnson and Johnson Vaccine and the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the risk of getting a fever during pregnancy after getting the coronavirus vaccine, and many other topics.
The Vaccine Confers Immunity to Your Growing Baby
If you’re a pregnant mother and you receive the coronavirus vaccine, your body will produce antibodies and those antibodies will go from your body, to your placenta, to the baby’s body and protect the baby from Coronavirus. You will also share antibodies with your baby after birth via breast milk.
From the Harvard Gazette:
In the largest study of its kind to date, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard have found the new mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to be highly effective in producing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in pregnant and lactating women. The study also demonstrated the vaccines confer protective immunity to newborns through breast milk and the placenta.
Coronavirus Vaccine and Fever in Pregnancy
Getting the coronavirus vaccine during pregnancy may cause a fever, however, this is not very likely and the fever after vaccination is of short duration and unlikely to cause any damage to the growing baby or fetus. From Harvard Health:
One possible side effect of the COVID-19 vaccines is fever a day or two after vaccination. This occurred in about
1% to 3% of people after the first dose of mRNA vaccine
15% to 17% after the second dose of mRNA vaccine
9% after the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine.
These fevers are generally low and can be managed with acetaminophen, which is safe to take during pregnancy. Rarely, high, prolonged fevers in pregnancy may lead to birth defects.
Thanks for reading and have a great day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Why Have a Membership with Plum Health DPC
Why Have a Membership with Plum Health DPC?
Plum Health DPC is a relatively new business - we’ve been operating for the last 4.5 years - so we understand that people have questions about Plum Health and direct primary care in general. A lot of people ask us why they should sign up for this different kind of health care model.
Our patients choose our service at Plum Health for several reasons, but one of the biggest reasons why people trust us with their health care is because of reachability and communication. In short, we respond to our patients right away when they reach out to us via text, phone calls, or emails.
When you’re a member of Plum Health, you have timely, clear, and consistent communication with your doctor.
We recently reached 90 + five star reviews on Google for our business, and we analyzed the data. Three main categories of responses stood out: Reachability & Communication, Cost, and Wait Times. While affordable healthcare is a trend during this decade, the results show that 'Reachability & Communication' is the most appreciated benefit for our patients.
A staggering 72% of the reviews left by our patients included a comment in this Reachability & Communication category. Affordable pricing is our 2nd highest rated benefit in the practice according to our patients.
More than 40% of our patients included affordable pricing in their review of our clinic. Another 32% of those reviews included positive remarks about wait times.
While these are the most frequently mentioned benefits of a Plum Health DPC membership in terms of our google reviews, there are several other reasons to join! Find out more, here.
Thanks for reading and have a great day,
- Dr. Paul Thomas MD with Plum Health DPC
Plum Health DPC Lowers the Cost of Prescription Drugs via Channel 7 Action News
Plum Health DPC Lowers the Cost of Prescriptions Drugs in Detroit and Beyond
This evening we were featured on Channel 7 Action news for lowering the cost of medications in Detroit. We started Plum Health DPC in 2016 with a mission: to make health care more affordable and accessible in Detroit and beyond. One part of that broader mission is to lower the cost of medications for our patients.
Paul Thomas MD of Plum Health on Channel 7 Action News
Paul Thomas MD of Plum Health DPC is on Channel 7 Action News with Jennifer Ann Wilson, discussing how we lower the cost of medications in Detroit and beyond.
We buy the most common medications at wholesale and sell them to our patients directly - without a mark up. That’s why our service is called Plum Health DPC, the DPC stands for Direct Primary Care - we deliver primary care services directly to our patients.
By delivering care directly to our patients, we remove the profit takers, pharmacy benefit managers, and retail pharmacies between you and your medications, effectively lowering the cost of those prescriptions by 50% to 90%. Here’s the cost of our seven most commonly used medications:
Metformin 500 mg 1.2 cents/pill or $0.36 for a 1 month supply
Ibuprofen 600 mg 7 cents/pill or $2.10 for a 1 month supply
Lisinopril 10 mg 2.3 cents/pill or $0.66 for a 1 month supply
Amlodipine 5 mg 1.1 cents/pill or $0.33 for a 1 month supply
Sertraline/Zoloft 50 mg 4.8 cents/pill or $1.44 for a 1 month supply
Cetirizine/Zyrtec 10 mg 5.2 cents/pill or $1.52 for a 1 month supply
Loratadine/Claritin 10 mg 3.4 cents/pill or $1.02 for a 1 month supply
We do this work because we know that the cost of medications continues to climb and that people in our community need a fair shake when it comes to getting the medications that they need to stay healthy.
Here’s what Detroit’s Channel 7 Action News (WXYZ Detroit) had to say:
Dr. Paul Thomas started Plum Health Direct Primary Care four years ago in Detroit with a mission.
"We believe that medication should be affordable and accessible," Dr. Thomas said.
His membership-based business model eliminates the pharmacy and prescription benefit managers by getting medications directly from the wholesalers then selling it to his patients at cost.
Here’s the full interview from Channel 7 Action News:
Thanks for reading and watching, and have a wonderful day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC in Detroit, Michigan
Paul Thomas MD of Plum Health DPC on Channel 7 Action News
Dr. Paul Thomas on Channel 7 Action News discusses how Plum Health DPC lowers the cost of medications for patients in Detroit and beyond.
Reaching out to Young People with the Coronavirus Vaccine
How to Reach Young People with the Coronavirus Vaccine
Presently, young adults have a wait-and-see mentality when it comes to the coronavirus vaccination. According to Kaiser Health News, young adults, ages 18-29, were most likely to be in this “wait and see” group, at 25% of respondents.
One young adult trying to change this wait-and-see attitude among her peers is Christina Zerka, an undergraduate/pre-medical student at the University of Michigan.
She started a campaign called Save Summer 2021, through which she advocates for vaccine acceptance among young people, with the goal of returning to fun and engaging public events, like concerts, once herd immunity is reached.
The Save Summer 2021 campaign can be found on Instagram, YouTube, and their own website.
In this interview, we talk about the Save Summer 2021 campaign and how we can make sure that all groups within our country have access to the best information around coronavirus and the vaccine.
Thanks for reading and have a great day,
- Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Coronavirus and Misleading Headlines for April 7th 2021
I've been reading too many misleading headlines in the Detroit Media landscape recently and I'm frustrated by this misinformation.
Media companies can present information in certain ways, and the way that this information is presented makes a difference for public perceptions, especially around coronavirus vaccine efficacy.
The headline I'm talking about is this one that I saw circulated on several news media outlets: "246 fully vaccinated Michiganders got COVID-19 between January and March, state reports"
This information is true, but it misleads the public into thinking that the coronavirus vaccines are not safe and effective.
The media organizations neglected the greater context in their initial reporting, failing to state clearly that 1,700,000 Michigan residents have been vaccinated and only 246 of those have become ill with Covid-19.
If I were to re-write this headline, it would say: "99.99% of vaccine recipients in Michigan have not become ill with Covid-19"
This speaks clearly to the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
Additionally, some media outlets also reported that 3 fully vaccinated Michiganders have died after being fully vaccinated.
This is true, but again misleading.
When taken in the greater context of 1,700,000 (or 1.7 million) fully vaccinated Michiganders, that means that only 0.00017% of those fully vaccinated Michiganders have died from coronavirus.
That means that 99.9999% of those who have achieved full vaccination have NOT died from the coronavirus.
Further, these media organizations did not fully discuss the cases and left out pertinent details.
I would like to know, and these media outlets should report:
- How old were the people who got sick?
- Did these people have pre-existing conditions?
- Were these people taking medications that would suppress an immune response, like steroids or drugs for auto-immune conditions?
- Did these patients have HIV/AIDS or another condition that suppresses normal immune functioning?
- Did these patients die from COVID or were their deaths due to another cause, such as heart attacks, strokes, etc…?
My biggest fear is that people who are opposed to vaccinations will use these misleading headlines as "evidence" that the vaccines don't work, when, in fact, these vaccines are safe and effective.
Thanks for reading, and reach out to your City or County health department to get the vaccine.
If you live in the City of Detroit:
- Call: 313-230-0505
- Monday-Friday from 9 am until 6 pm.
- Any resident of the City of Detroit who is age 16+.
- Any person who works in the City of Detroit whose job requires them to work from their job site.
- There will be no cost to individuals for the COVID-19 vaccination.
Thanks again,
- Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
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
Throwback to March 2018: Paul Thomas MD on IT in the D
Unfortunately, David Phillips, long-time Detroit podcaster, has passed away. To honor his memory, and to highlight his humor and magnetism, here’s our interview with Bob Waltenspiel, David Phillips, Jer Staes, and Randy Walker. As a warning, there is some adult humor and language in this episode, so if you want to jump to a cleaner portion of the interview, skip to time 31:00:
Episode 237 – Dr Paul and Plum Health, Detroit Policy Conference, Daily Detroit
We all know the insurance industry is incredibly broken, dealing with doctor's offices can be a major PITA, and prices just keep skyrocketing...well, what if there was an alternative. There is, and it's right here in metro Detroit - meet Dr Paul and his Plum Health company that deals directly with you, not insurance companies, and we seriously couldn't find a flaw in his claims or business model so give it a look after listening in. We also chatted with Jer from Daily Detroit about the recent Detroit Policy Conference that took place downtown, and of course our usual smattering of events, updates, and stories that caught our eyes... Plum Health is at: https://www.plumhealthdpc.com/ Daily Detroit is at: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailyDetroit/ IT in the D On the web: http://www.ITinTheD.com On Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/ITintheD/ On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/IT-in-D-91763 On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ITintheD On Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ITintheD Podcast Detroit is at: On the web: http://www.podcastdetroit.com/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PodcastDetroit On Twitter: https://twitter.com/PodcastDetroit On Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/podcastdetroit
Thanks for reading and listening,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Coronavirus Vaccine Update for March 23rd 2021
Coronavirus status for march 25th 2021
I'm upset about this most recent spike in Coronavirus cases here in Michigan and Detroit/Southeast Michigan.
Yesterday, the State of Michigan reported 4,454 new cases, and sadly we are nearing 16,000 deaths from COVID.
We can do better. We all need to get vaccinated to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our community. So far:
- 25.12% of Michiganders have received a single dose
- 14.31% of Michiganders have received both doses
That's great, but it will take 60 to 70% of us getting vaccinated to reach herd immunity.
I know that a lot of you are hesitant to get the vaccine, that's why I created this video and I answer as many questions as I possibly can to address these concerns. And, I'm happy to answer any other questions you have in the comments below.
Please - get the shot. You hold the power to save a life (or multiple lives) by getting vaccinated.
Coronavirus update march 2021
This is a presentation by Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC in Detroit Michigan regarding Coronavirus, COVID 19, Coronavirus Vaccines, and frequently asked questions about COVD 19.
Topics:
Rising cases in Michigan, potentially due to lessening of restrictions
Age groups that are at the highest risk for Coronavirus
Comorbidities and Coronavirus, and why these pre-existing conditions lead to a higher risk of dying from Coronavirus
Hospitalizations and deaths related to coronavirus in the context of coronavirus and underlying medical conditions
How the mRNA vaccines work to create the Coronavirus Spike Protein
The difference between Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson Vaccines
What is the Adenovirus Vaccine Vector for the Johnson and Johnson Vaccine
Addressing a myth: the vaccine will alter my DNA - this is not true, the mRNA vaccine does not alter your DNA
Why the mRNA is easier and safer to produce and why it’s safer for patients
When will you get your vaccine? ie When will the coronavirus vaccine be available to me? (12:00)
Comparing and contrasting the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson Vaccines
all of the vaccines are 100% effective in preventing hospitalization and death
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a 1 shot vaccine, so it may be better for specific populations
Comparing Polio to Coronavirus and Elvis Presley to Dolly Parton
How many vaccine doses have been given?
Is the Coronavirus Vaccine safe? (22:00)
If I’ve already had Covid, should I still get the Coronavirus Vaccine?
Should I get vaccinated with the coronavirus vaccine if I’m currently sick with Coronavirus?
Should I get vaccinated with the coronavirus vaccine if I’m currently pregnant or breastfeeding?
Vaccine efficacy against the South Africa and United Kingdom variants?
When will the Johnson and Johnson Vaccine be available?
What is Coronavirus Antibody testing (34:00)
What about myocarditis in college athletes who’ve had coronavirus?
Will there be a booster shot for Coronavirus vaccines?
What vitamins should you take to help ward off Coronavirus?
How common is Anaphylaxis after you get the Coronavirus Vaccine?
Can getting the Coronavirus cause problems with your immune system?
Thanks for reading and watching and have a wonderful day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
How to Get the Coronavirus Vaccine at Ford Field in Detroit
This letter from Governor Gretchen Whitmer elucidates how to get the Coronavirus Vaccine at Ford Field:
The Ford Field site will operate from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., seven days a week, for eight weeks under the federal government's vaccination pilot program. The community vaccination site is set to officially open on March 24.
After the registration process is completed, Michiganders who have registered will receive an invitation either by voice or text when it’s your turn to schedule the appointment. Vaccine appointments will be scheduled a few days in advance.
Sign-up is available through these three options:
Text EndCOVID to 75049
Call the MDHHS COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136 (press 1)
Residents who don’t have access to the internet or need assistance navigating through the registration process can use the MDHHS COVID-19 Hotline to register. Call Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is expected that the call center will have long wait times, so calling is recommended only if you cannot register online or by text.
The vaccine will be offered at no cost, and insurance is not required, nor will it be requested at the vaccination center.
Free parking will be available at the vaccination site. For those who indicate, during the registration process, they need assistance obtaining transportation to and from the vaccination site, the state is working to provide free of charge ride share options.
The Ford Field community vaccination site is a testament to what we can do when we work together. I am grateful for President Biden’s leadership and for the partnership of the Detroit Lions, Meijer, Wayne County, the City of Detroit, and our federals partners at FEMA.
We will keep ramping up our equitable vaccine rollout, and with the addition of the Ford Field community site, we are taking a significant step towards returning to normal as we continue rebuilding our economy.
Let's end this pandemic together.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Ford Field has hosted different health related events in the past - check out our blog post from two years ago where we participated in a Men’s Health event at Ford Field.
Also, let me clear on this point: getting the Coronavirus Vaccine at Ford Field will not be the most painful experience that you’ve ever had at Ford Field, especially if you’re a Lion’s Fan. If you’ve lived through this moment, then you can tolerate the Coronavirus Vaccine.
Thanks for reading all of that, as a reward, here’s a video of me kicking a field goal at Ford Field:
More information on the Coronavirus Vaccine at Ford Field:
Vaccine is offered at no cost
No insurance required to get the vaccine
Any Michigan resident, 16 or older, can register
After registration, the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services will offer you a time to schedule the vaccine
Folks who are eligible now include:
65 years of age or older
50 to 64 years with a medical condition or disability
health care workers
long term care residents and staff
frontline responders
school and childcare staff
mortuary service workers
correctional staff and detained individuals
congregate care facility staff and residents
food workers
caregivers for children with special needs
Free parking is available at the Gem Theatre if you’re entering through Gate A (red gate)
Free parking is available at the Ford Field Parking Deck if you’re entering through Gate G (green gate)
Free transportation is an option, and you can request free transport at the time of registration
In short, get your COVID vaccine now, and let's end the pandemic, just like the Green Bay Packers end our playoff hopes every season.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Distribute the Johnson and Johnson Coronavirus Vaccine to Doctors
Pull up a chair, have a seat, and grab the newspaper 📰 our Opinion is in the Detroit News!
We believe that healthcare should be affordable and accessible, and part of that includes making sure that the vaccine 💉 is available at primary care offices across the city and region.
You see, people have a high degree of trust in their doctors 🥼 so let us help educate and vaccinate, but we need the vaccine on hand to make this work.
Just about every day this week, a different patient has asked me when they’ll be able to get the vaccine from our office. Our patients are used to getting vaccinated here in our Plum Health DPC clinic -we vaccinate folks every day to prevent the flu, shingles, cervical cancer, hepatitis, and more. Our patients come to expect that they can get the vaccine from our clinic, any vaccine.
So you can imagine their surprise when we tell them that we don’t have the vaccine on hand.
You can read our full opinion on the Detroit News, here.
Special thanks to David Wright, medical student at Wayne State University School of Medicine for helping me write this article.
Paul Thomas MD in the Conference Room with Mark S Lee
Today I’ll be in the Conference Room with Mark S Lee. Here’s what he posted on his LinkedIn:
This week “In the Conference Room”, we welcome Dana C. Harvey, MBA, Paul Thomas, M.D. and Wayne Handmarsh.
Topics include entrepreneurial challenges during COVID, medical challenges in diverse segments and and senior care services.
You can join the conversation, Sunday, 11 am, EDT, by calling (313) 778-7600. You can also stream via the station’s FB Live, iHeart Radio or the station’s app (click on “Watch Live”).
And don’t forget to Spring Forward this weekend!
I’ve known Mark for the last 4 years as he was one of the first journalists to cover me and my journey with Plum Health DPC. He wrote an excellent article about us in Crain’s Detroit Business back in March 2017, and that was a tremendous boost for our business and our brand.
Mark’s program today starts at 11 am on 910 am Superstation (you can watch or listen live, here) and we’ll be featured at the noon hour. Please join us!
MORE ABOUT PLUM HEALTH DPC
At Plum Health, we believe that health care should be affordable and accessible for everyone. Members of the practice can call, text, or email the doctor anytime they need health care services. We guarantee same-day/next-day appointments. Additionally, patients have access to wholesale medications, at-cost imaging services, and at-cost lab work. Plum Health began in November 2016 with 8 patients, and now has 975 active patients, spanning in age from 4 months to 101 years of age. Our vision is to provide the best healthcare experience in Detroit and beyond.
-Paul Thomas MD with Plum Health DPC
Price Gouging on Your Lab Work - How to Prevent It From Happening to You
Why Are Lab Prices So High?
It’s no surprise that people get ripped off on their lab work. Patients and their families have no idea of the prices of the lab work that they’re having done. Doctors don’t really know either. Next time you get your blood drawn, ask your doctor what it will cost - chances are, they won’t know, or they may say “it will depend on your insurance coverage.”
That’s another issue with the high cost of labs. Hospitals can set prices at whatever level they want for their labs, and then insured patients will get a discount for having an insurance plan, but uninsured patients will be unsheltered from these high costs.
This recently happened to one of our patients - they went to a health care facility and requested labs, and they were charged about $494.72 for some basic labs.
$494.72 was charged to our patient for basic labs, consisting of a comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood count, thyroid stimulating hormone, a lipid panel, and a hemoglobin a1c, which is a test for diabetes.
In contrast, if that patient had the labs done in our office at Plum Health DPC, their total cost would have been $27.47, a savings of about 94%.
$27.47 was charged to our patient for basic labs, consisting of a comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood count, thyroid stimulating hormone, a lipid panel, and a hemoglobin a1c, which is a test for diabetes.
How Can You Reduce the Cost of Your Lab Work?
Imagine if you could save 50 to 90% on your primary health care costs?
Rather than spending $500 for labs, you could spend $30 for labs. What would you do with that extra $470?
Rather than spending $3,000 for a knee MRI, you could spend $300 for that same test. What would you do with that extra $2,700?
At Plum Health, our mission is to deliver affordable, accessible healthcare services in Detroit and beyond. So, we’re always looking at ways to save our patients money on health care costs - it’s just what we do.
In short, if you’re looking to save 50 to 90% on your lab workin Detroit or Metro Detroit, reach out to us at Plum Health DPC. If you’re living in another area of the country, look up a local direct primary care doctor near you!
Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful day,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
If you’d like to have this sort of direct primary care service and knowledge that you’re getting the best prices on your medical care, you can sign up here.
Plum Health DPC Welcomes Dr. Leslie Rabaut to the Detroit Office
Plum Health in Detroit adds a Spanish-speaking primary care physician
Detroit, Michigan, March 8th, 2021 - Plum Health DPC is pleased to announce that they have expanded access to primary care resources in Metro Detroit by hiring a fourth physician who is fluent in Spanish and English, Dr. Leslie Rabaut, DO.
We are excited to announce that Dr. Leslie Rabaut has joined our service at Plum Health DPC. She is a family medicine physician and she is accepting new patients.
Plum Health hired a fourth doctor because of the increasing demand for Plum Health’s services and the desire to be more easily accessible to patients of diverse backgrounds throughout Metro Detroit.
As we grow our practice, we aim to work with intention to serve our local community better. Adding a bilingual doctor is one of those steps.
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is passionate about forming strong relationships with her patients and is fluent in medical Spanish. Her clinical interests include functional medicine, preventative medicine, and integrative therapies that work with a patient’s natural physiology to encourage healing.
Dr. Rabaut is a graduate of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency training at Aurora St. Luke’s Family Medicine Residency in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is excited about expanding access to primary care in Metro Detroit.
“I chose direct primary care so that I could have the time to get to know each of my patients as a unique individual which allows me to tailor my treatment to provide truly patient-centered care,” said Dr. Rabaut.
"We believe that healthcare should be affordable and accessible for everyone, that’s why we’re hiring another excellent physician who is bilingual – to expand access to care," says Dr. Paul Thomas, who for the last four-and-a-half years, has been serving residents in Detroit and beyond from Plum Health's Corktown office.
There are currently 960 members in the practice who are cared for by Drs. Paul Thomas, Raquel Orlich, and Jamie Qualls. Dr. Leslie Rabaut’s arrival will allow Plum Health to care for an additional 500 patients.
Direct primary care (DPC) physicians do not bill or use insurance. They provide their patients with steeply discounted medications, labs, imaging services, and procedures. The DPC model allows patients to have a direct relationship with their primary care physician by enrolling in an affordable subscription-based service, costing between $10 and $89 per month.
Plum Health doctors are available to patients not just in our offices, but by phone, text message, or video call. This connectivity makes getting care even more convenient for their patients.
Plum Health DPC currently operates two thriving locations in Corktown Detroit and Farmington Hills with doctors Paul Thomas, MD, Raquel Orlich, DO, and Jamie Qualls DO, MPH.
Dr. Leslie Rabaut will be practicing out of Plum Health’s Corktown Detroit office located at 1620 Michigan Avenue, Suite 125, Detroit, MI 48216.
Media Contact
Dr. Paul Thomas, MD
Founder & Physician
Plum Health DPC
(313) 444 - 5630
More about Plum Health DPC
At Plum Health, we believe that health care should be affordable and accessible for everyone. Members of the practice can call, text, or email the doctor anytime they need health care services. We guarantee same-day/next-day appointments. Additionally, patients have access to wholesale medications, at-cost imaging services, and at-cost lab work. Plum Health began in November 2016 with 8 patients, and now has 960 active patients, spanning in age from 4 months to 101 years of age. Our vision is to provide the best healthcare experience in Detroit and beyond.
Paul Thomas MD, Jamie Qualls DO, Chris Lake, Raquel Orlich DO, and Leslie Rabaut DO at Plum Health DPC in Detroit, Michigan.
More about Paul Thomas, MD and Leslie Rabaut, DO
Dr. Paul Thomas is a board-certified family medicine physician practicing in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. 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 is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine. He served as Chief Resident at Oakwood Family Medicine Residency Program. 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 and is an author of the book Direct Primary Care: The Cure for Our Broken Healthcare System.
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a board-certified family medicine physician in Detroit. She practices high quality care that is individualized to each patient. Her interests include functional medicine, preventative medicine, and integrative therapies that work with a patient’s natural physiology to encourage healing. She enjoys working with patients on lifestyle factors that impact health and disease, such as stress, sleep, physical activity, nutrition, and social relationships. She believes in working together with patients as a team to help them achieve their personal health goals. Dr. Rabaut is fluent in Spanish and English.
More 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: