This is Dr. Paul Thomas with Plum Health DPC and Startup DPC. I received a long list of questions about Direct Primary Care from Physician Estate and I'll do my best to answer all of them here!
The Background of Paul Thomas, MD and Plum Health DPC
1. Please tell us a bit about your personal story, growing up, and medical training.
I really answer this fully in my first book, Direct Primary Care: The Cure for Our Broken Healthcare System. But briefly, I started my journey in medicine by volunteering at a local free clinic. I loved working with patients. But, by the end of my residency, I found that I had less and less time with my patients. I needed to find a way to practice medicine on my own terms and for the benefit of my patients.
I also talk about this in my TEDXDetroit talk, here:
2. What made you develop interest in Direct Primary Care? Motivating factors? Did you pursue any formal education/training that focuses on Direct Primary Care? If so, what was it?
By the end of my residency, I was spending less time with my patients, and I didn’t want to participate in or perpetuate the dysfunctional health insurance system of healthcare delivery. So, I wrote a business plan and started my own direct primary care practice, Plum Health DPC in Detroit Michigan.
About Plum Health - A Direct Primary Care Platform
3. What is Plum Health? As a platform that specializes in Direct Primary Care practice, what is its unique value proposition? Tell us the story behind its creation.
Our unique value proposition is the amount of time and the amount of value that we can give to each of our patients. In a fee-for-service system that emphasizes speed and allows doctors and patients to have less time with one another, Plum Health DPC stands out in it’s ability to cultivate the physician-patient relationship.
4. Generally, how do you help educate physicians in the US who are interested in starting their own Direct Primary Care practice? Do you provide any services, courses, coaching, etc? Challenges and Milestones in Your Direct Primary Care Practice
I’ve been a speaker at the AAFP DPC Summit and at the D4PC Foundation Nuts and Bolts Conference. Because of these prominent speaking opportunities, I’ve been sought out by other doctors to help them start and grow their DPC practices. I’ve consulted with individuals and I have some courses and resources on this website to help my aspiring DPC colleagues. I’ve also written the book Startup DPC: How to Start and Grow Your Direct Primary Care Practice, which has helped hundreds of doctors in their direct primary care journey.
5. What are some of the mistakes you made when you were still starting out with your Direct Primary Care practice? If you had to redo the whole journey, what would you do differently?
Early on, I made the mistake of doing everything myself. I should have hired a medical assistant sooner and I should have hired a second doctor sooner. Hiring other people has helped me serve more people in our community with excellent primary care services.
6. Share a few special milestones you achieved in your Direct Primary Care journey.
There are many milestones that we’ve reached along the way. During my journey, I’ve hired people, I’ve built out a larger office in my community dedicated to lowering the cost of health care, and we’ve grown our medical practice to serve more people.
7. How do you see Direct Primary Care evolving over the next 5-10 years? How does the political climate and ever so polar political opinions affect the evolution of DPC?
Direct primary care will continue to grow and thrive as long as direct primary care doctors continue to go above and beyond for their patients. This looks like solving difficult problems for your patients every day.
Direct Primary Care vs. Traditional Fee-for-Service
This section is for patients and doctors that are not yet aware of DPC
8. In a nutshell, what do you think is the major difference of Direct Primary Care practice vs. Traditional fee-for service?
The biggest difference is the time that doctors and patients have together. The next biggest difference is that the doctor is actively trying to solve problems for their patients and lower the cost of health care for their patients.
9. Why should a patient consider enrolling in a Direct Primary Care practice over the traditional fee-for-service?
People choose Plum Health and direct primary care services like Plum Health because they have more time with their doctors and easy access to their physicians via texts, phone, calls, and emails. They also have $0 copays for visits, and they can save 50% to 90% on labs, medications, and imaging services.
10. If you are explaining about Direct Primary Care to a layman who doesn’t have a medical background, what would be your 2-minute explanation to make him/her understand Direct Primary Care practice?
I would tell them something like this (our winning pitch at the Detroit Demo Day, where we won $50,000 for the buildout of our new, larger office in Corktown, Detroit):
What are your Favorite Direct primary Care REsources?
11. Favorite book that talks about Direct Primary Care; and favorite book in general about any topic
Well, my favorite book about direct primary care is my newest book - Startup DPC. One of my favorite books in general is CRUSH IT! by Gary Vaynerchuck.
12. As someone who is an advocate of Direct Primary Care practice, what are your favorite resources for Direct Primary Care?
13. Favorite bloggers that have the same passion as you when it comes to Direct Primary Care 14. Favorite quote
Tips for Physicians Who Are Planning to Start Their Own Direct Primary Care Practice
15. Many physicians find it challenging to start their own Direct Primary Care practice. As someone who’s been in the Direct Primary Care business for quite some time now, what do you think physicians should first do when they are starting out? Any tips and/or strategies you highly recommend?
On Investments
16. Tell us a bit about your investment strategies. Do you invest your savings? If so, what are your favorite asset classes? Do you max out on your retirement accounts? Since you own your practice, do you utilize solo 401k?
Final Thoughts on Direct Primary Care Practice
17. This is an open ended question. Please feel free to share your closing thoughts.
18. For physicians who are looking for great resources on Direct Primary Care - What is the best way for them to get in touch with you?