Dr. Paul Fletcher, internal medicine physician at Hopscotch Health
On any given day you'll ï¬nd Dr. Paul Fletcher, a practicing internal medicine physician based in Marion, North Carolina, visiting with his patients, making phone calls to check in and joking affably with his clinic care team. He listens intently and asks questions, maintaining eye contact with his patients while a medical scribe documents the conversation and next steps.
As he glides between appointments in his practice, the newly opened  primary care clinic, what's most striking is that Dr. Fletcher doesn't seem rushed. “I'm not here to look at the clock. My job is to really listen, ï¬nd out what's going on and make a plan with my patient so they get the best possible care, and that takes time. Fortunately, I'm now in a position where I am able to spend the time it takes and really be available to my patients,†he said.
Dr. Fletcher recently joined Hopscotch Health, taking on the role of lead physician at the organization’s newly built Marion location. With a network of clinics in Asheville, Brevard, Tryon and Weaverville, Hopscotch Health is on a mission to make healthcare more accessible in rural communities.
For Dr. Fletcher, the opportunity to practice primary care the way it was meant to be was a major draw.
The new Hopscotch Health clinic takes a team-based approach to delivering care and focuses on “quality rather than quantity.†Distinct from the traditional model of care, team-based care supports every patient with more resources. Each member of Dr. Fletcher’s team has specialized functions. Unique roles like registered nurse care managers and community health workers are there to help patients with things like navigating insurance plans and accessing affordable medication.
“The idea is that we’re building a community of care around our patients,†said Dr. Fletcher. “It’s intentional and well-coordinated so that each patient has someone to walk them through every step of their experience and receive highly personalized care that extends even beyond the clinic.â€
He’s conï¬dent in and excited by the new level of care at his clinic, one he says will be simply unmatched. “To really be able to take a look at each patient as a whole, rather than just a number on a schedule throughout the day, is just a beautiful thing.â€
Like most primary care physicians who serve patients in rural areas, Dr. Fletcher feels deeply connected to his community. “I've always felt the role of the primary care physician in small communities is to be the central point of connection between the patient and the care they need.â€
“I’m proud to lead a team that truly cares about this community and wants to bring them better healthcare,†continued Dr. Fletcher. “I can see that our patients sense a new kind of ownership of their care. For them to know that someone is really serving as their advocate, keeping their best interests in mind and coming alongside them in their care is empowering for me, but especially for our patients.â€
Located at 2845 Sugar Hill Road, the new Hopscotch Health clinic in Marion is now accepting new adult patients on Medicare. For more information about Hopscotch Health and to make an appointment, visit  or call 828.398.0120.
