Plum Health Blog
Paul Thomas, MD - Recent Alumni Award Recipient from Wayne State University School of Medicine
Paul Thomas, MD - Recent Alumni Award Recipient from Wayne State University School of Medicine
In 2019, Dr. Paul Thomas received the Recent Alumni Award from Wayne State University School of Medicine. This is a prestigious award that is not given out every year. Here’s how it’s described by WSU SOM:
The Recent Alumni Award, established in 2003, is presented to an individual who received an M.D. degree from the WSU School of Medicine within the last 15 years and has demonstrated outstanding professional achievement, community contributions or service to Wayne State University School of Medicine.
Here’s a list of the previous Recent Alumni Award Winners at Wayne State University School of Medicine:
Plum Health DPC is a Family Medicine Practice in Detroit that is Accepting New Patients
Plum Health DPC is a family medicine practice in Detroit that is accepting new patients.
We have a family medicine clinic with three family medicine doctors and we are all accepting new patients into our practice. We see patients of all ages and stages and help our patients with a variety of medical concerns, like asthma, allergies, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, anemia, acid reflux, obesity, and so much more.
Médica Hispanohablante, Plum Health DPC en Detroit
Necesita ver a un doctor primario que hable español?
O no tiene seguro médico?
Tenemos muy buenas noticias! Nuestra doctora Leslie Rabaut, habla español y para verla usted no necesita tener seguro médico.
Le invitamos a formar parte de nuestra practica donde usted tendra accesibilidad a consultar su doctora la cual habla español, tendra descuentos en laboratorios y medicamentos y muchos beneficios mas.
Todo incluido bajo un pago mensual economico de entre $55 a $89 al mes.
Tiene preguntas? Le gustaria obtener mas información?
Llamenos al 313-444-5630 y con gusto le atenderemos.
Tambien puede visitar nuestro página web: www.PlumHealthDPC.com
Plum Health DPC
1620 Michigan Ave, Suite 125
Detroit, MI 48216
Se necesita una médica quien se habla español?
No tiene seguro médico?
Tenemos buenas noticias para Ud.
Dr. Rabaut es una generalista ubicada en clínica de Plum Health en Corktown Detroit.
Ella se habla español con fluidez y acepta pacientes sin seguro médico.
Se paga una carga cada mes para ser miembro en la clínica.
Para los de edad 18-39: $55 cada mes
Edad 40-64 $75/mes
Edad >65 $89/mes
Si quiere más información, que nos llame en 313-444-5630 o visite nuestro página web:
www.PlumHealthDPC.com
Plum Health DPC
1620 Michigan Ave, Suite 125
Detroit, MI 48216
Leadership at Plum Health DPC
I have this grainy copy of a photo of a document above my desk that serves as a reminder about leadership and how I operate my business at Plum Health DPC. I look at it every day, and it helps me focus on how I conduct myself to create a successful organization. I thought I’d share it with you today!
Notes on Leadership, a reminder to myself:
1. Lead by example.
2. Lead by principles.
3. Surround yourself with great people.
4. Set clear goals and communicate them well.
5. Actions speak louder than words.
6. Know your business from the ground up.
7. Understand the business cycles of your industry.
8. Be entrepreneurial and nimble.
9. Don't be afraid to take risks.
10. Think long-term, despite short-term pressures.
11. Listen and respond to employees, customers, and stakeholders.
12. Learn from your mistakes.
13. Be an optimist.
14. Find balance.
Notes on Leadership at Plum Health DPC
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 DPC is a Best of MichBusiness Award Winner
This month, Plum Health was named the Best Startup in Michigan by CORP! Magazine during their Best of MichBusiness Awards event. Here’s what they said about us:
Start-Up Businesses
One of the biggest issues during the ongoing pandemic has been access to affordable health care, something the folks at Plum Health Detroit know a little something about.
In 2021, Plum Health adapted by focusing on supporting physicians and making sure they had the tools, training, and time they needed to "deliver excellent care and service for our patients."
"Delivering excellent, comprehensive primary care services is challenging in a typical environment, but with the pandemic ongoing, we've increased our support of our doctors to ensure long-term sustainability of our practice," said Dr. Paul Thomas, Plum Health's founder. "At our clinic, we prioritize meeting the needs of our patients, while balancing family and home obligations for happy and healthy physicians. When doctors are happy and satisfied with a flexible work environment and schedule, they'll be able to help their patients to the best of their ability."
That attitude helped lead Plum Health to becoming the overall winner in the Start-Up Business category in the 2021 Best of MichBusiness Awards.
In 2021, Plum Health rolled out curb-side COVID testing and vaccination, helping thousands of Detroiters get vaccinated, either through the clinic or by educating them on nearby resources that they could utilize for vaccination and testing.
To read the full article, head to this link and navigate to pages 52/53 of the January/February issue of CORP! Magazine.
More from Best of MichBusiness Awards:
Thank you for making last week’s Best of MichBusiness Awards a wonderful experience. The community is buzzing around the phenomenal honorees and awards from the week. It was an honor to work with you and celebrate your success.
Here are a few follow up items regarding your honor:
Awards Presentation Link: https://vimeo.com/668363594/c0f05a81f1
Best of MichBusiness Program Book: CLICK HERE
The featured article in Corp! Magazine with the overall winners: January/February issue
Dr. Raquel Orlich is a Family Medicine Doctor in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Raquel Orlich is a Family Medicine Doctor in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Raquel Orlich is a family medicine doctor and she has been practicing with our clinic, Plum Health DPC, in Corktown Detroit for the past 2 years and 8 months. She provides excellent, compassionate care for our patients at Plum Health and delivers comprehensive care for all of her patients.
Dr. Raquel Orlich is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Board Certified in Obesity Medicine. She loves helping her patients with musculoskeletal issues via the use of Osteopathic Manual Medicine (OMM), she enjoys engaging in women’s health care issues, and she enjoys addressing overweight and obesity issues as she helps her patients lose weight and become healthier.
Further, Dr. Raquel Orlich’s patients love the care that she delivers. This is best captured by a recent Google review from one such patient:
By far the best in health care I've ever dealt with. I was only a patient here under a year, but I gleaned so much info and confidence in my health journey. I moved to another state and am constantly wishing I could just hop in to Plum! I saw Raquel Orlich specifically, and she was a joy as well as being supremely comfortable, knowledgeable and communicative. Every test was returned with detailed results so I was never once confused or doing my own research or guessing at how to correct the issue. She always heard me out and was willing to explore even if I was wrong. I was never brushed off and I usually left feeling confident. Chris was amazing and so welcoming as well and made all the labs a breeze. I'd honestly stand outside with a sandwich board on waiving cars into the parking lot like H&R block in tax season if they wanted me to. 🤣 They are so worth it.
Further, Dr. Orlich has been with us for 2 years and 8 months, so she knows many of the resources available to patients here in Detroit and beyond. This allows her to guide patients to the best care options and reach their optimal health.
Thank you Dr. Orlich for all that you do for our clinic and our patients!
The above photo was taken in March 2019 - Dr. Orlich was completing the last few months of her residency program and she was coming by to pick up a fresh new white coat and her new business cards. This was an exciting moment and it was so great to welcome her as part of our Plum Health team.
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Physician Accepting New Patients in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Physician Accepting New Patients in Detroit Michigan
Dr. Leslie Rabaut is a Family Medicine Physician Accepting New Patients in Detroit Michigan - she is an excellent physician who delivers excellent care for her patients and the broader community. We are lucky to have her as a part of our service here at Plum Health DPC.
With that being said, she has about 261 patients at this time, and she has garnered that number of patients over the last 1 year. Dr. Rabaut started at our clinic on February 1st, 2021, and through the pandemic, she has gained 261 patients. She takes care of a diverse group of people from many different backgrounds.
Dr. Rabaut will likely cap at 400 to 500 patients so that she can maintain this high level of care, service, and excellence for her patients. Dr. Rabaut will likely reach a full panel in 6 months to 12 months from this time, so if you’re looking for an excellent direct primary care doctor, please sign up to be one of Dr. Rabaut’s patients sooner than later, before her panel is full.
Our patients love Dr. Rabaut and they have given her high praise on our Google Review site. Here’s the most recent review for Dr. Rabaut:
Ohhh, the healthcare system. What an interesting collection of institutions! I wish more places were like Plum Health though. For a couple years, I was stuck with an insurance company that didn't have great PCPs and then had some job changes, which basically made relying upon insurance a complicated process. I remembered Plum Health from Demo Day and decided to reach out.
Absolutely loved the attention that I received from Dr. Rabaut. After having an experience with a PCP who rushed through my appointments and didn't actually listen to what I was saying about my own body, my experience with Plum Health was a breath of fresh air.
Here’s another review for Dr. Rabaut:
I have been Dr. Rabaut's patient for about a year now, and I have to say that she is HANDS DOWN the best doctor I have had. I email her dumb (and not so dumb) questions all the time and she always emails me back right away. Even on a Saturday. She is approachable and honest. When she listens, she is actually listening. I will be lucky if I get to be under her care for a very long time.
And here’s another recent review for Dr. Leslie Rabaut:
I have never had a visit to the doctor like this before. I have always had terrible amxiety going to the doctors. Here I didn't have to wait at all to see the doctor. Dr. Leslie Raubart came in and talked with me for 45 minutes!! (At my last doctor I would be lucky if I got 10 mintues) She was amazing and you can tell she truly cares. She is very good at asking you the right questions and getting all the details. When my blood results came back, she emailed me a very detailed message explaining what supplements and a plan of action for the future. I am so glad to have found this.
In summary, Dr. Leslie Rabaut is an excellent family medicine physician and she is accepting new patients at our Plum Health DPC office in Detroit, Michigan.
How to Deal with Neck Pain in Detroit Michigan
How to Deal with Neck Pain in Detroit Michigan
A common musculoskeletal issue is “text neck” where we look down at our devices like tablets, phones, and computers throughout the day. This can stretch the muscles at the base of your skull and cause those muscles to spasm when they get over stretched.
My favorite modality for treating text neck is about repositioning our bodies and stretching our neck muscles gently twice daily. These twice daily stretches will keep your neck muscles loose and diminish spasming over time. The more consistent you can be with stretching, the better your improvement.
If your symptoms persist - if you have continued neck muscle spasming, you can try medications like NSAIDS or muscle relaxants. Of course, talk to your doctor before you use these medications to make sure that they don’t cause any stomach irritation or kidney damage.
It would be reasonable to try Ibuprofen 600 mg if you experience neck muscle spasms that cannot be controlled or that cause pain. Ibuprofen is an NSAID.
An alternative would be to take Flexeril (Cyclobenzaprine) 10 mg 1 hour prior to bed time - this is a prescription medication so please consult with your physician before using a medication like this. Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant and patients get relief when they use this medication as it relaxes skeletal muscles. But it cannot be taken within 8 hours of driving or operating heavy machinery as it causes drowsiness in some patients, so we have our patients take the medication 1 hour prior to bedtime.
Another alternative to neck pain treatment is osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) that would be given by an osteopathic doctor (a D.O.). These treatments take 15 minutes to 30 minutes and they can focus on relaxing/manually stretching the muscles in the neck. Our physician at our office, Dr. Raquel Orlich specializes in this type of therapy.
A combination of the above modalities would reduce the muscle spasms that you’re experiencing in your neck.
Thanks for reading and watching,
-Dr. Paul Thomas
How we manage Urinary Tract Infections at Plum Health DPC in Detroit
How we manage Urinary Tract Infections at Plum Health DPC in Detroit
At Plum Health DPC in Detroit Michigan, we help our patients with several different medical problems, from high blood pressure, to diabetes, weight loss, and urinary tract infections and so many more.
At our office, it costs about $3 to run a urinalysis and about $6 for a urine culture. If you’d like to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea, it costs about $23. We usually test for this as there can be overlap in symptoms for a urinary tract infection and a sexually transmitted infection. We also run a pregnancy test for free, to make sure that it’s safe to give antibiotics.
As for treatment of urinary tract infections, we typically use antibiotics like Bactrim (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) or Nitrofurantoin. The Bactrim is about $0.86 (86 cents) for a course of therapy and the Nitrofurantoin is about $2 for a course of treatment.
Thanks for reading and watching, and have a wonderful day.
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Pricing Changes for 2022
Plum Pack!
At this time, we are raising our prices for most of our membership tiers. These pricing changes will go into effect on March 1st, 2022. Our new pricing sets are as follows:
Children, 0 to 17 years of age: $15 per month (an increase of $5/month)
Adults, 18 to 39 years of age: $55 per month (an increase of $6/month)
Older Adults 40 to 64 years of age: $75 per month (an increase of $6/month)
Senior Adults 65 and up: $89 per month (no change)
We had to make this difficult decision because of several factors including the increasing complexity of the services that we deliver at our clinic and the rising costs of necessary supplies and equipment for our business.
For example, pre-pandemic, a box of 200 latex gloves would cost $9.95, now it costs $24.95 for that same box of gloves.
We remain committed to delivering affordable and accessible health care services. These price increases will allow us to continue to deliver excellent care and service.
We appreciate you for being a part of the service, and our unending thanks for being a part of the Plum Pack.
Sincerely,
Drs. Paul Thomas, MD Raquel Orlich, DO and Leslie Rabaut DO
Should you have questions, do not hesitate to call our office at 313.444.5630)
Plum Health DPC is a Friendly Neighborhood Doctors Office in Detroit, Michigan
Plum Health is a Friendly Neighborhood Doctors Office in Detroit
This week, we received a really nice write up and shout out from Detroit Demo Day. If you remember, we won the Detroit Demo Day prize in 2019 for $50,000! This allowed us to grow from a small, one-room office in Southwest Detroit, to a friendly, neighborhood doctors office with 1,700 square feet, three doctors, and the capacity for 1,500 patients.
We successfully built out this new office in Corktown Detroit at Michigan and Trumbull, and we now see patients from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
Plum Health DPC won Detroit Demo Day back in 2019 and that helped us grow into a larger office with three doctors!
Detroit Demo Day Profile: Plum Health
This post is part of our blog series featuring updates on Detroit Demo Day alumni. Here, we reconnect with Dr. Paul Thomas, who founded direct primary care services in Detroit.
Business: Plum Health DPC (plumhealthdpc.com)
Founder/Entrepreneur Name: Paul Thomas, MD
Year Established: 2016
Who does the business serve/Mission statement: We believe that health care should be affordable and accessible for everyone, in Detroit and beyond.
Demo Day Year: 2019
Category/Prize/Award: $50,000 Grant - Start Category
Impact of Detroit Demo Day Experience: Our Detroit Demo Day win helped us grow from a 360 square feet space to 1,700 square feet in a better location on Michigan Avenue. This accelerated our growth from 600 patients to 1,123 patients, which enabled us to hire another doctor to support our growing patient base.
What they're up to now: We now have three doctors and one medical assistant, all of whom are full-time staff. We helped the community navigate the pandemic with care and communication, and now have 1,123 patients and growing!
Where they see their business in 5 years: Growing! We have net growth at about 300 new patients each year, and that's starting to accelerate, so we may grow into a second location if everything keeps moving in this direction.
Advice to Other Entrepreneurs: Done is better than perfect.
Detroit Medical Office Hiring a Medical Assistant
Plum Health DPC is Hiring a Medical Assistant
Our medical clinic in Detroit, Plum Health DPC, is hiring a medical assistant who can join our practice full time. At Plum Health, we believe that health care should be affordable and accessible for everyone. We are looking to hire someone who is positive and enthusiastic about delivering a delightful health care experience for our members.
Our starting salary is in the range of $15 per hour or more depending on experience. The position is full time, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm to cover our clinic hours. Two weeks paid vacation, 401K eligibility after 6 months. Please email Paul@PlumHealthDPC.com if interested in this position.
Here is a full list of specific job duties and responsibilities that we are hiring for:
Welcoming patients to the office
Scheduling patient appointments when requested
Emailing/Texting/Calling patients to confirm appointments when requested
Obtaining vital signs on each patient and documenting that information into the medical record
Collecting blood work and other lab samples
Contacting lab vendors for pickups
Assisting physicians with necessary tasks
Assisting with Pap testing
Assisting with skin biopsy and other procedures
Obtaining EKGs and other diagnostic testing when needed
Giving immunizations
Documenting immunization in MCIR
Pulling MCIR data when needed, uploading into medical record when needed
Obtaining COVID Swabs
Curbside COVID testing and in-office COVID testing as needed
Ensuring that all COVID test materials are properly labeled
Ensuring that all COVID samples are picked up each evening when tests are collected
Running MAPS data on patients when needed
Putting MAPS data into medical record
Inventorying medications
Monitoring medication levels, lab supplies, and other supplies and requesting refills when needed
Cleaning rooms once physicians/patients are finished
Cleaning office – desks, floors, bathrooms, etc… - as needed
Answering phones
Properly documenting requests and conversations in the medical record
OR documenting the requests with an email to the appropriate staff member
Processing medical records
Faxing documents
Completing patient paperwork
Scanning and uploading documents
Assisting with release of records documentation
Assisting with revenue collection and patient billing issues
Obtaining mail and packages from the mail room
Attend staff meetings
Assisting physicians with workflow tasks
Assisting physicians and other staff with miscellaneous requests
Plum Health DPC is a family medicine clinic in Detroit Michigan. We’re hiring a medical assistant at this time.
Flu Shots Available in Detroit
I made this video in October with spooky music, but Flu Shots are still available at our Plum Health DPC office in Detroit.
This season, it is especially important to get your Flu Shot as it is difficult to distinguish between the flu (influenza viral infection), the common cold (rhinovirus infection), and Covid 19 Omicron Variant (Coronavirus infection).
If you need the shot from our office, it’s $23.50 at our office with fast and convenient scheduling and administration.
Our office is at 1620 Michigan Ave, Suite 125 Detroit MI 48216.
Thanks for reading and watching,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Covid Testing in Detroit
Coronavirus PCR Testing in Detroit Michigan
At Plum Health DPC, we offer PCR Testing with results returning next day. We are testing folks at our office from 9 am to 5 pm each week day. We do not offer testing on the weekend as our laboratory is closed on those days.
If you would like to be tested, please bring a valid state or federal photo identification, along with a health insurance card if you have it. We are able to perform testing for insured or uninsured patients. Please arrive at our office and remain in your car. We charge $100 per test for non-members and $50 per test for members of our practice. If you’d like to learn more about our membership, it’s here on our FAQ page.
When you arrive for your COVID test at our office, please stay in your car and then call the office at 313.444.5630. We will come out and perform the swab curbside. We will also make a copy of your ID/insurance card to send to the laboratory.
Our office is located at 1620 Michigan Avenue, Suite 125, Detroit, MI 48216. We are at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull near the old Tiger’s Stadium site.
The labs are picked up around 5 pm and then we receive the results the next day. Once we have the results, we will email them to you. Please make sure that you print your email address clearly on our intake form so that we can send the results to the correct email address.
Either myself or our medical assistant, Chris Lake, will perform the test curbside. Curbside testing allows us to minimize exposure for ourselves or for the other patients that come to our office. Please wear a mask while testing you, leaving your nose uncovered and your mouth covered. Again, this helps us reduce exposure to the virus.
Thank you so much for reading and have a wonderful day.
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC in Detroit, Michigan
Splinter Removal in Detroit
Splinter Removal in Detroit
We are a group of family medicine doctors. Our practice, Plum Health DPC, addresses a wide variety of concerns, like splinters that get stuck in fingers when doing house work. This week, one of our patients got a splinter in his finger while doing some woodworking around the house. It was painful and causing a slight infection to the surrounding tissue.
We used an 18 gauge needle to work the splinter out of the finger. It took about 2 minutes to perform the procedure, but the patient felt immediate relief. Some pus drained out of the wound during the procedure. We always review Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis TDaP vaccine history in these instances and get our patients up-to-date on that TDaP vaccine. The risk of getting tetanus through a splinter like this is very low, but it’s good to check the vaccine history and reasonable to update folks who are more than 5 years since their last TDaP vaccine with the TDaP shot.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day.
-Dr. Paul Thomas, Physician with Plum Health DPC
How to Save Money on Albuterol in Detroit Michigan
How to Save Money on Albuterol in Detroit Michigan
I saw a tweet by Senator Bernie Sanders this week where he says that “An asthma inhaler that is sold to the Canadian people for just $27 should not cost the American people $242 for the EXACT SAME inhaler.”
Fortunatel, at Plum Health, we are able to wholesale medications and we’re able to get Albuterol for our patients for about $38.50, an 84% savings from the $242 quoted by Senator Sanders in the above tweet.
This holds for a broad range of medications here at Plum Health, from blood pressure medications, to antidepressants, to acid reflux meds, and mediations to control diabetes.
As we all know, medication prices are higher in the United States than in many other developed nations.
Insulin in the United States costs 14x what it costs in England.
Insulin in the United States costs 11x what it costs in France.
Insulin in the United States costs 9x what it costs in Germany.
Insulin in the United States costs 7x what it costs in Japan.
Again, at Plum Health, we are able to wholesale insulin for our patients, and get it for them for free in some cases. This goes a long way towards empowering our patients to take great care of themselves, as we take the high cost out of their life-saving medications.
Thanks for reading,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
How Plum Health Saves Patients Money on Prescription Costs
This week, I got an email from a prospective patient. Here’s their question:
Good morning Paul,
I have a question about Plum Health. I have a new job but do not have health insurance. I take five prescriptions.
For a 30 day supply it costs me
Simvastatin 20mg - $14.41
Phenytoin 100mg ER - $29.11
Hydralazine 50mg - $15.31
Metformin 500mg ER - $11.65
I also take Jardiance. However, it is between $500 and $700 dollars.
I was wondering what could possibly be done in my case. I pay out of pocket for the 4 medications listed above but the Jardiance is another story.
Thank you for your time.
It’s crazy that this patient is paying roughly $70.33 each month for four generic medications. Here’s what I sent back:
thanks for the note. Here are the prices at Plum Health for those medications:
Simvastatin 20 mg is $0.90 for a 30 day supply
Metformin 500 mg ER is $1.10 for a 30 day supply
Hydralazine 50 mg is $4.40 for 100 tabs (more than a 3 month supply)
Phenytoin 100 mg is $18 for 100 capsules (more than a 3 month supply)
It looks like you'd save about $60/month on your medications if you joined our practice, and you'd be able to have access to a high-quality family physician.
Thanks for reaching out and thanks for considering a membership with Plum Health! I hope you're having a great November 2021 all things considered, and let me know how I can be helpful - Dr. Paul 313.444.5630
To learn more about our service, head over to https://www.plumhealthdpc.com/
To sign up for our service, go to this link: https://plumhealthdpc.atlas.md/enrollment/index.html?account=nEzWixRVa2gKZ7CJ91e7&wmode=opaque
This is just one example of how we save patients money on their medications.
Thanks for reading,
-Dr. Paul Thomas at Plum Health DPC
Paul Thomas MD at Wayne State University School of Medicine for a Business of Medicine Elective Course Panel
Wayne State University School of Medicine Business of Medicine Elective Course Invites Dr. Paul Thomas to a Panel
Dr. Paul Thomas, a Wayne State University School of Medicine graduate from 2013, was invited to be a part of a panel discussing Business of Medicine. This was a group of medical students interested in the business side of medicine.
I was really happy to receive this invitation as it is my opinion that medical schools should focus more time in their curriculum to the business of medicine. Topics that ought to be discussed included how to attract patients, how to generate revenue, how to pick and use an electronic medical record, how to manage practice finances, how to start a PLLC or an LLC to operate your business or purchase real estate for your business, how to invest, etc… These skills would be transformational if all physicians were equipped with these business fundamentals.
Paul Thomas, MD of Plum Health DPC speaks to a group of medical students at Wayne State University School of Medicine During their Business of Medicine elective course.
During the course of the evening, we talked about all of the above topics and more, including the following:
How do you build and maintain a patient population in a private practice?
How do referrals work, and what do you focus on when building relationships with specialists when it comes to referrals?
How to decide on employee personnel (PA vs NP vs another MD/DO, MA's vs CNA's etc)
As a growing practice, how do you gain buying power against large healthcare establishments?
Other than telemedicine, what changes from COVID do you foresee staying/playing a role long term?
It was an excellent conversation and I was happy to share my knowledge and insights in these areas. After the event, I received the following thank you.
On behalf of the students and myself, a sincere and grateful 'thank you' for the gift of your time and your insights last evening.
During this very informative and engaging discussion you helped these first-year medical students gain a better understanding of many of the business issues involved in establishing a direct primary care practice. Your entrepreneurial skills were very evident, and we are thrilled they had a chance to get to know this other side of your story.
It was great to observe the ease with which you engaged with the students, and we all benefited from the breadth and particulars of the discussion. The discussion continued after you left, and I am certain the students will continue to benefit from the opportunity to hear about your fascinating journey and will take to heart the advice you gave.
In closing, it’s great to see medical students engaged in the Business of Medicine, as if we want to create a more compassionate health care system, we need to fundamentally change the business models that we use to deliver health care services. Hopefully these students will be apart of that change for the better.
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC
Plum Health Physicians Strongly Recommend COVID 19 Vaccination for Children 5 to 11 Years of Age
Plum Health Physicians Strongly Recommend COVID 19 Vaccination for Children 5 to 11 Years of Age
Today, I got a great question from someone on LinkedIn about the coronavirus vaccination for children. Here’s what they asked:
Hey Paul, wondering if you can point me in the direction of a good resource to cut through all the noise about COVID vaccines for kids 5-11. Weighing the decision to get the shot for my 7 year old daughter now or to hold off for a bit until even more data exists on outcomes post clinical trials. I looked to see if you had anything posted but didn’t come across anything. Thanks in advance!
This is a great question.
The CDC recommends everyone 5 years and older get the COVID-19 vaccine. I attached a link which states that the Pfizer vaccine is good for children 5-11 years. This is a 2 dose series 21 days apart. Vaccination helps children from getting severely sick. Vaccination also helps kids participate in activities - like after school enrichment programs and team sports. Vaccination for children also protects family members, especially older family members or family members with conditions that compromise their immune system.
Before getting approval this vaccine moved through different clinical trials and is now FDA approved. In each phase, the vaccine was tested in a large group of people to test for safety and efficacy. The Phase 2 and 3 trial revealed that the Pfizer vaccine had a good safety profile and protection in children 5 to 11. The Phase 1, 2, and 3 trial had 4,500 children 6 months to 11 years. Among these children, reactions were mostly mild to moderate. The side effects of the vaccine could be pain, redness, and fatigue. There were no cases of myocarditis in these trials, and these cases of myocarditis have been extremely rare in the real world setting.
The composition of the COVID-19 vaccine is safe. The Pfizer vaccine contains messenger RNA which tells the cells to create an immune response to COVID-19. Children 5 through 11 do not get the Pfizer vaccine given to teens and adults. They receive an age-appropriate dose that is one-third the adult dose.
Here is a great link from the CDC which explains the vaccine. There is also a video that describes mRNA vaccine:
This is a good publication that briefly describes the work that was done to develop the vaccine:
https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/17751?autologincheck=redirected
Where can you get coronavirus testing and vaccines in Detroit?
At Plum Health DPC, we have been vaccinating adults and children as soon as the appropriate vaccine doses became available for us. We’ve also been testing our patients for COVID to help them travel and stay healthy if they’ve experienced a recent exposure or symptoms concerning for COVID. Our office is in Corktown, Detroit at Michigan and Trumbull. You can get services or more information by calling 313.444.5630.
Thanks for reading,
-Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC