A metro Detroit Doctor is doing something different in health care. He's making it affordable and more personal for his patients.
In today's day and age, it's so difficult to get an appointment with your doctor at the last minute.
Even as a physician, Dr. Paul Thomas became frustrated with the entire health care system. After doing some research, he created a health care model with a unique approach to the doctor-patient relationship.
"Healthcare for me was nonexistent before," Dr. Thomas said.
Cinthia Ray, a patient of Dr. Thomas, says she can’t afford the high price for health insurance.
"Where I work they do not provide health insurance," Ray said.
So she took to social media looking for anything that fits her needs at an affordable rate. Then she found Doctor Thomas.
"We’re a membership model for healthcare, and it’s called direct primary care," Dr. Thomas said.
Doctor Thomas provides a service for patients they can afford through a monthly membership that also provides personal care and instant communication through text or email.
"We don’t bill or use insurance, and it’s 49 dollars a month, and it’s 10 dollars a month for kids," he said.
Not only is the membership fee affordable, but it also comes with extras.
"In addition, as a perk to being a member, you get the wholesale medications you get the at-cost labs and the at-cost imaging," Dr. Thomas said. "If you want to refill your blood pressure medication rather than paying 5 or 10 bucks at the pharmacy, it’s 30 cents or 50 cents because those are 1 cent a pill," he said.
Dr. Thomas has no staff or overhead fees, that’s why his prices are so low.
For Cinthia, she says Dr. Thomas’ membership fee is super convenient and easy, and most important, it eliminates wait times in the doctor's office.
"Whenever I feel like I’m experiencing something, I’m able to shoot him a text and say these are my symptoms," she said.
Cinthia says for her something that was once nonexistent, is now just a text away.
"Because he offers such accessibility and this membership you pay it once a month and if you need to see him two or three times a month, you don’t have the co-pays, you just strictly have the cost of the medication which is extremely affordable," Cinthia said.
Dr. Thomas currently has 350 patients. However he still encourages his patients to maintain health insurance for catastrophic health issues, things like heart attacks, car accidents or cancer treatment.
If you'd like more information about Dr. Thomas and his services go to www.plumhealthdpc.com.