hello everybody my name is dr. Paul Thomas I’m a family medicine doctor that
Thomas I’m a family medicine doctor that
Thomas I’m a family medicine doctor that means I take care of people of all ages
means I take care of people of all ages
means I take care of people of all ages and stages I went to medical school at
and stages I went to medical school at
and stages I went to medical school at Wayne State University School of
Wayne State University School of
Wayne State University School of Medicine yes I did my residency at
Medicine yes I did my residency at
Medicine yes I did my residency at Oakwood which is now called Beaumont and
Oakwood which is now called Beaumont and
Oakwood which is now called Beaumont and I currently practice in southwest
I currently practice in southwest
I currently practice in southwest Detroit my clinic is called Plum health
Detroit my clinic is called Plum health
Detroit my clinic is called Plum health thank you I’m here today because I
thank you I’m here today because I
thank you I’m here today because I believe that health care should be
believe that health care should be
believe that health care should be affordable and accessible
when I was invited to talk at TEDx
when I was invited to talk at TEDx Detroit I was so freaking excited man
Detroit I was so freaking excited man
Detroit I was so freaking excited man this is awesome who’s not having a great
this is awesome who’s not having a great
this is awesome who’s not having a great time today I love sharing my story I
time today I love sharing my story I
time today I love sharing my story I love talking about healthcare and
love talking about healthcare and
love talking about healthcare and Detroit and family medicine but then I
Detroit and family medicine but then I
Detroit and family medicine but then I found out I’d have eight minutes eight
found out I’d have eight minutes eight
found out I’d have eight minutes eight minutes what can I possibly say in eight
minutes what can I possibly say in eight
minutes what can I possibly say in eight minutes you see I’m a family medicine
minutes you see I’m a family medicine
minutes you see I’m a family medicine doctor I like to get to know my patients
doctor I like to get to know my patients
doctor I like to get to know my patients I get to talk with them for an hour
I get to talk with them for an hour
I get to talk with them for an hour my initial appointments with them are an
my initial appointments with them are an
my initial appointments with them are an hour and we get to know each other we
hour and we get to know each other we
hour and we get to know each other we share stories we develop a trusting
share stories we develop a trusting
share stories we develop a trusting relationship and so this time seemed a
relationship and so this time seemed a
relationship and so this time seemed a little bit inadequate the joy in my
little bit inadequate the joy in my
little bit inadequate the joy in my practice in medicine is the joy of those
practice in medicine is the joy of those
practice in medicine is the joy of those human relationships and those human
human relationships and those human
human relationships and those human connections and I love my job because I
connections and I love my job because I
connections and I love my job because I really get to know the people I care for
really get to know the people I care for
really get to know the people I care for and that’s what makes it special being a
and that’s what makes it special being a
and that’s what makes it special being a doctor is an awesome thing but that’s
doctor is an awesome thing but that’s
doctor is an awesome thing but that’s not how it is
not how it is
not how it is in the United States that’s not how
in the United States that’s not how
in the United States that’s not how healthcare is in general across the
healthcare is in general across the
healthcare is in general across the United States let me tell you a little
United States let me tell you a little
United States let me tell you a little bit of a story of them by grandpa Jim
bit of a story of them by grandpa Jim
bit of a story of them by grandpa Jim Jim is a World War two veteran and he’s
Jim is a World War two veteran and he’s
Jim is a World War two veteran and he’s a retired Detroit police officer he’s
a retired Detroit police officer he’s
a retired Detroit police officer he’s also one of my best friends I love Jim
also one of my best friends I love Jim
also one of my best friends I love Jim okay but he’s got some toenail problems
okay but he’s got some toenail problems
okay but he’s got some toenail problems okay like you wouldn’t believe and so he
okay like you wouldn’t believe and so he
okay like you wouldn’t believe and so he went to see his primary care physician
went to see his primary care physician
went to see his primary care physician to get his toenails trimmed and he got
to get his toenails trimmed and he got
to get his toenails trimmed and he got referred to a podiatrist
referred to a podiatrist
referred to a podiatrist now the doctor made the referral because
now the doctor made the referral because
now the doctor made the referral because she only has eight minutes for her
she only has eight minutes for her
she only has eight minutes for her patients right it’s just not enough time
patients right it’s just not enough time
patients right it’s just not enough time to trim toenails or take care of complex
to trim toenails or take care of complex
to trim toenails or take care of complex medical problems and I think we’ve all
medical problems and I think we’ve all
medical problems and I think we’ve all been there in this room waited too long
been there in this room waited too long
been there in this room waited too long to see the doctor only to be rushed out
to see the doctor only to be rushed out
to see the doctor only to be rushed out and then Jim’s on a fixed income so a
and then Jim’s on a fixed income so a
and then Jim’s on a fixed income so a month later he gets the bill for 350
month later he gets the bill for 350
month later he gets the bill for 350 bucks you see his medicare covers
bucks you see his medicare covers
bucks you see his medicare covers primary care but it doesn’t cover
primary care but it doesn’t cover
primary care but it doesn’t cover specialty care right and that and I’m
specialty care right and that and I’m
specialty care right and that and I’m frustrated now because man I know my my
frustrated now because man I know my my
frustrated now because man I know my my grandpa Jim he’s stubborn right next
grandpa Jim he’s stubborn right next
grandpa Jim he’s stubborn right next time he has a problem he’s gonna be
time he has a problem he’s gonna be
time he has a problem he’s gonna be reluctant to talk about it because he
reluctant to talk about it because he
reluctant to talk about it because he knows he might get a bill for it so he
knows he might get a bill for it so he
knows he might get a bill for it so he told me about six months later about his
told me about six months later about his
told me about six months later about his toenails I’m like why didn’t you tell me
toenails I’m like why didn’t you tell me
toenails I’m like why didn’t you tell me sooner I spent about thirty minutes I
sooner I spent about thirty minutes I
sooner I spent about thirty minutes I trimmed his toenails and got him back to
trimmed his toenails and got him back to
trimmed his toenails and got him back to walking which is his favorite thing to
walking which is his favorite thing to
walking which is his favorite thing to do and took away some of the pain that
do and took away some of the pain that
do and took away some of the pain that he was having because of those toenails
he was having because of those toenails
he was having because of those toenails and that’s us walking out on our street
and that’s us walking out on our street
and that’s us walking out on our street together
together
together okay so I’ve always wanted to be a
okay so I’ve always wanted to be a
okay so I’ve always wanted to be a family doctor that’s a lie I actually
family doctor that’s a lie I actually
family doctor that’s a lie I actually wanted to be a ninja turtle
and and this is me on my fourth birthday
and and this is me on my fourth birthday blowing out candles in a ninja turtle
blowing out candles in a ninja turtle
blowing out candles in a ninja turtle jumper and wishing to become a ninja
jumper and wishing to become a ninja
jumper and wishing to become a ninja turtle okay but as I grew up I realized
turtle okay but as I grew up I realized
turtle okay but as I grew up I realized that I was not an amphibian and I needed
that I was not an amphibian and I needed
that I was not an amphibian and I needed to reevaluate my career choices so I
to reevaluate my career choices so I
to reevaluate my career choices so I started volunteering in high school at a
started volunteering in high school at a
started volunteering in high school at a free clinic about six blocks from where
free clinic about six blocks from where
free clinic about six blocks from where were city sitting today and I was
were city sitting today and I was
were city sitting today and I was working with Wayne State Medical
working with Wayne State Medical
working with Wayne State Medical Students and I was working
Students and I was working
Students and I was working shoulder-to-shoulder with them taking
shoulder-to-shoulder with them taking
shoulder-to-shoulder with them taking care of the most vulnerable patients in
care of the most vulnerable patients in
care of the most vulnerable patients in our community the homeless the uninsured
our community the homeless the uninsured
our community the homeless the uninsured some elderly folks who lived across the
some elderly folks who lived across the
some elderly folks who lived across the street who this was the only clinic they
street who this was the only clinic they
street who this was the only clinic they could get to because they didn’t have
could get to because they didn’t have
could get to because they didn’t have transportation and I was so impressed by
transportation and I was so impressed by
transportation and I was so impressed by the family medicine doctor who was
the family medicine doctor who was
the family medicine doctor who was supervising there he was excellent and
supervising there he was excellent and
supervising there he was excellent and he could handle anything that came his
he could handle anything that came his
he could handle anything that came his way and I wanted to do I wanted to be
way and I wanted to do I wanted to be
way and I wanted to do I wanted to be like that where I grew up so I I went to
like that where I grew up so I I went to
like that where I grew up so I I went to Wayne State and I became acutely aware
Wayne State and I became acutely aware
Wayne State and I became acutely aware of the health disparities in Detroit all
of the health disparities in Detroit all
of the health disparities in Detroit all these pink areas in the city of Detroit
these pink areas in the city of Detroit
these pink areas in the city of Detroit are medically underserved there’s about
are medically underserved there’s about
are medically underserved there’s about 100 primary care doctors for six hundred
100 primary care doctors for six hundred
100 primary care doctors for six hundred and eighty thousand people
and eighty thousand people
and eighty thousand people that’s one doctor for every six thousand
that’s one doctor for every six thousand
that’s one doctor for every six thousand people okay so we wanted to address this
people okay so we wanted to address this
people okay so we wanted to address this we are idealistic medical students so we
we are idealistic medical students so we
we are idealistic medical students so we built this outdoor medical clinic at the
built this outdoor medical clinic at the
built this outdoor medical clinic at the Heidelberg project
and we’re like we’re gonna solve all the
and we’re like we’re gonna solve all the problems in healthcare and it’s still
problems in healthcare and it’s still
problems in healthcare and it’s still standing there today
standing there today
standing there today it’s still there today and it
it’s still there today and it
it’s still there today and it representative for us the clinic that we
representative for us the clinic that we
representative for us the clinic that we wanted to build when we graduated from a
wanted to build when we graduated from a
wanted to build when we graduated from a medical school and residency but the
medical school and residency but the
medical school and residency but the deeper and deeper I got into my training
deeper and deeper I got into my training
deeper and deeper I got into my training the more and more this dream just seemed
the more and more this dream just seemed
the more and more this dream just seemed like a dream like there’s no way I can
like a dream like there’s no way I can
like a dream like there’s no way I can make it a reality because the further
make it a reality because the further
make it a reality because the further along I got at my training I was
along I got at my training I was
along I got at my training I was spending less and less time with my
spending less and less time with my
spending less and less time with my patients you see being a family medicine
patients you see being a family medicine
patients you see being a family medicine doctor is like catching sand you know
doctor is like catching sand you know
doctor is like catching sand you know you’ve got so many people and each grain
you’ve got so many people and each grain
you’ve got so many people and each grain of sand is a concern that you’re trying
of sand is a concern that you’re trying
of sand is a concern that you’re trying to take care of and it’s it’s your
to take care of and it’s it’s your
to take care of and it’s it’s your daughter’s throat pain it’s your
daughter’s throat pain it’s your
daughter’s throat pain it’s your brother’s chest pain it’s your
brother’s chest pain it’s your
brother’s chest pain it’s your grandfather’s overgrown toenails right
grandfather’s overgrown toenails right
grandfather’s overgrown toenails right and the more patients you see the more
and the more patients you see the more
and the more patients you see the more things kind of slip through your fingers
things kind of slip through your fingers
things kind of slip through your fingers and and and that’s why it’s so hard to
and and and that’s why it’s so hard to
and and and that’s why it’s so hard to be a family doc and I felt like the
be a family doc and I felt like the
be a family doc and I felt like the deeper I got in my training I wasn’t the
deeper I got in my training I wasn’t the
deeper I got in my training I wasn’t the doctor that I was trained to be I just
doctor that I was trained to be I just
doctor that I was trained to be I just was too pressed for time and that’s
was too pressed for time and that’s
was too pressed for time and that’s where I heard about a courageous group
where I heard about a courageous group
where I heard about a courageous group of doctors who were living their truth
of doctors who were living their truth
of doctors who were living their truth who believed what I believed that
who believed what I believed that
who believed what I believed that healthcare should be affordable and
healthcare should be affordable and
healthcare should be affordable and accessible for everyone
accessible for everyone
accessible for everyone they call themselves direct primary care
they call themselves direct primary care
they call themselves direct primary care doctors because they work directly with
doctors because they work directly with
doctors because they work directly with their patients it’s a membership model
their patients it’s a membership model
their patients it’s a membership model for healthcare there’s no insurance
for healthcare there’s no insurance
for healthcare there’s no insurance there’s no middlemen these doctors have
there’s no middlemen these doctors have
there’s no middlemen these doctors have enough time now to be advocates for
enough time now to be advocates for
enough time now to be advocates for their patients they reduce their panel
their patients they reduce their panel
their patients they reduce their panel from five from two five hundred members
from five from two five hundred members
from five from two five hundred members so they see about five visits each day
so they see about five visits each day
so they see about five visits each day so you get a full hour with some left
so you get a full hour with some left
so you get a full hour with some left over time to make phone calls and follow
over time to make phone calls and follow
over time to make phone calls and follow up on things that’s compared to the
up on things that’s compared to the
up on things that’s compared to the typical family medicine doctor there’s
typical family medicine doctor there’s
typical family medicine doctor there’s 2,400 patients and has to see about 24
2,400 patients and has to see about 24
2,400 patients and has to see about 24 patients a day that’s when those grains
patients a day that’s when those grains
patients a day that’s when those grains of sand starts slipping through our
of sand starts slipping through our
of sand starts slipping through our fingers when we’re seeing too many
fingers when we’re seeing too many
fingers when we’re seeing too many people each day currently there are
people each day currently there are
people each day currently there are about 717 of these primary care doctors
about 717 of these primary care doctors
about 717 of these primary care doctors direct primary care doctors across the
direct primary care doctors across the
direct primary care doctors across the country and they advocate for their
country and they advocate for their
country and they advocate for their patients they get wholesale medications
patients they get wholesale medications
patients they get wholesale medications at cost labs at cost
at cost labs at cost
at cost labs at cost Imaging they save their patients
Imaging they save their patients
Imaging they save their patients thousands of dollars each year on those
thousands of dollars each year on those
thousands of dollars each year on those ancillary services and let me introduce
ancillary services and let me introduce
ancillary services and let me introduce you to a few of them this is dr. Lynn in
you to a few of them this is dr. Lynn in
you to a few of them this is dr. Lynn in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh this is dr. Haynes in Florida this is
this is dr. Haynes in Florida this is
this is dr. Haynes in Florida this is dr. Flanagan in Colorado
dr. Flanagan in Colorado
dr. Flanagan in Colorado this is dr. Pinkney in Texas and this is
this is dr. Pinkney in Texas and this is
this is dr. Pinkney in Texas and this is dr. Diane Cara Bible these doctors are
dr. Diane Cara Bible these doctors are
dr. Diane Cara Bible these doctors are living their truth they are excellent
living their truth they are excellent
living their truth they are excellent physicians who go out of the way to take
physicians who go out of the way to take
physicians who go out of the way to take care of the patients the way they should
care of the patients the way they should
care of the patients the way they should be taken care of I am proud to count
be taken care of I am proud to count
be taken care of I am proud to count myself among them and I’m proud to be
myself among them and I’m proud to be
myself among them and I’m proud to be their colleague not only are they saving
their colleague not only are they saving
their colleague not only are they saving their patients and doing the right thing
their patients and doing the right thing
their patients and doing the right thing for their patients but they may be
for their patients but they may be
for their patients but they may be saving the soul of medicine itself thank
saving the soul of medicine itself thank
saving the soul of medicine itself thank you so much for your time
”
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