I spent several hours looking through available primary care physicians in the Brown and Toland…read moregroup, and on Yelp, for a doctor for my hubby. I am one of those people who is very picky about docs, and finding a doctor who truly comes across like they are patient, and are listening, is really important to me.
Thanks so much to all the Yelpers who took the time to praise Dr. Fletcher. It was worth it for me to do all that research here on Yelp (so, thanks to Yelp, as well!). You would not believe how many doctors either had NO ratings, or they had low ratings, either because the doctor didn't have good bedside manner, OR because the staff was rude or disorganized. But not the case with Dr. Fletcher's office!
I was overjoyed to find out that an appointment had just opened up the next day, so I booked it right away. As the reviews indicated here on Yelp, Dr. Fletcher's bedside manner is incredible. Oh and his staff was awesome too, very polite and accomodating, organized, explained everything well. I worked in a doctor's office once, over 20 years ago, and know it is a HARD job. So kudos to these ladies for keeping things running so smoothly!
We had an appt. booked with a very young, female primary care physician a few days prior, but my husband cancelled that appt. because he really wanted someone who was more experienced. Several times, during the appointment with Dr. Fletcher, I kept thinking about what a huge difference there would have been, between the two primary care physicians. I am guessing the other doc (who was a young woman focused more on pediatrics... I had only booked her because she had several slots available) would have just taken a quick look at him and referred him to a specialist. No offense to her, she just didn't have the years behind her!
But Dr. Fletcher had decades of experience and knowledge to draw from, and really took his time with my husband, asking many details. Instead of sending him to a specialist, he was able to give my hubby his own recommendations, prescriptions, etc.. I was very impressed.
One thing I want to point out about going to this office... be careful when using a GPS, especially if you do not live in the city. When I saw 3838 California on the map, I assumed it must be the California Pacific Medical Center, where my brother had his baby. I should have just skpped the GPS, but nooo. And for some reason my GPS (the one on my phone: an Android MyTouch Q) told me to drive straight past it!! It had us going all the way down to the 4700 block of California, insisting the doctor's office was in a residential area?!? It did not help matters that we were already late due to an accident on 101, so I really appreciate Dr. Fletcher's (and the staff's) patience, and the fact that Dr. Fletcher didn't rush my husband through his appointment.
Thank you again Dr. Fletcher and your great staff, for all that you do. My husband actually said to me, as soon as his appt. was over: "I like him." And coming from my husband, who is just about as picky and sensitive as I am... that is saying a lot.