Hey y’all — I need to talk about something that hits real close to home for me. Literally.

I live in Murphy, North Carolina. I see the Smokies out my window every morning. And I know firsthand what it’s like out here when you get sick — because I live in the same community you do. If you’re in Cherokee County, Clay County, Graham County, or anywhere in the far western tip of North Carolina, you already know the deal: the nearest urgent care might be 30 to 45 minutes away. The nearest ER? Might be even further. And if you don’t have insurance — or your deductible is so high it might as well be no insurance — you’re stuck choosing between a $200+ bill and just hoping it goes away on its own.

I’ve watched too many of my neighbors tough it out because they didn’t have a good option. That’s why I built NPCWoods.

NPCWoods is a text-based telemedicine practice where you can get evaluated, diagnosed, and treated for $59 flat. No insurance needed. No video call required. No hidden fees. And the person treating you isn’t some random provider three states away — it’s me, your neighbor, who happens to be a board-certified Nurse Practitioner.

Why Western NC Needs This More Than Most Places

Let me paint the picture for folks who aren’t familiar with our part of the state. Western North Carolina — I’m talking about the real western tip, not Asheville — is some of the most beautiful country in America. But it’s also one of the most underserved areas for healthcare in the entire Southeast.

• Cherokee County (Murphy, Andrews) — one hospital, limited specialist access, many residents drive 60+ minutes for routine care
• Clay County (Hayesville) — no hospital at all. The nearest emergency department is in Murphy or across the Georgia line in Hiawassee.
• Graham County (Robbinsville) — one of the most isolated counties east of the Mississippi. Limited clinic hours, very few providers.
• Macon County (Franklin, Highlands) — better access than the far west, but still significant gaps, especially after hours

These aren’t just statistics to me. I live here. I shop at the Ingles in Murphy. I know how long that drive to the nearest urgent care feels when you’re sick with a 102-degree fever. I know what it’s like when you can’t take a half-day off work to sit in a waiting room because there’s only one clinic in town and they’re backed up.

Text-based telemedicine was practically designed for communities like ours. Your phone works on the mountain. Your healthcare should too.

Is Telemedicine Legal in North Carolina?

Yes — and North Carolina has actually been forward-thinking about telehealth, especially since the pandemic expanded access. Here’s what you need to know:

• Asynchronous (text-based) telemedicine is permitted — North Carolina recognizes store-and-forward and asynchronous telehealth as valid forms of telemedicine. You don’t need a video call for every visit.
• Nurse Practitioners can practice via telehealth — NC law authorizes NPs to evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe through telemedicine encounters
• No prior in-person visit required — your first visit with a telemedicine provider can be 100% remote
• Most prescriptions can be sent via telehealth — antibiotics, antihistamines, anti-nausea meds, and other non-controlled medications can be prescribed after a telemedicine evaluation
• Schedule II controlled substances have restrictions — things like Adderall and opioids require additional safeguards. I don’t prescribe these through NPCWoods, and I’m always transparent about that.

Bottom line: everything I do through NPCWoods is fully within North Carolina’s telehealth regulations. No gray areas, no shortcuts.

The Real Cost of Getting Sick in Western NC

Pure transparency — let’s look at what folks in our area are actually paying right now:

And here’s the thing most people don’t realize — that $200 urgent care visit? That’s before the prescription costs, lab fees, or follow-up charges. Plus the gas money and half a day of driving to get there and back. With NPCWoods, $59 covers your entire visit: evaluation, diagnosis, treatment plan, and prescription if you need one.

What Can You Actually Get Treated for via Text?

You’d be surprised how much can be handled without driving anywhere. I treat these conditions every single day through text-based visits:

• UTIs (urinary tract infections) — classic symptoms are very diagnosable via text
• Sinus infections — facial pressure, congestion, discolored drainage
• Ear infections — ear pain, pressure, recent cold symptoms
• Strep throat — sore throat, fever, no cough (strep has a very specific pattern)
• Cold and flu symptoms — when you need something stronger than what’s on the shelf at Ingles
• Allergies — seasonal or ongoing, especially when mountain pollen season hits hard
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis) — redness, discharge, itching
• Minor skin rashes — you text me a photo, I evaluate it

Text-based telemedicine — describe your symptoms like you’re texting a friend.

How NPCWoods Works — Step by Step

I built NPCWoods because I was tired of seeing my community underserved by corporate telemedicine apps. You know the drill: download an app, create an account, sit in a virtual waiting room, talk to a random provider in another state who’s never heard of Robbinsville. I wanted something better for our people.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Text Me Your Symptoms

You text (480) 639-4722. No app download, no account creation, no intake forms. Just describe what’s going on like you’re texting a friend. “Hey Chris, I’ve had a sore throat and fever for two days” is perfect.

Step 2: I Personally Evaluate Your Case

Not an algorithm. Not a chatbot. Not a random provider in California. Me — Chris Woods, board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, who lives right here in Murphy. I’ll ask follow-up questions if needed and apply real clinical judgment to your symptoms.

Step 3: You Get a Treatment Plan + Prescription

If I determine you need medication, I send the prescription directly to your preferred pharmacy — whether that’s the CVS in Murphy, the Walgreens in Hayesville, the pharmacy in Robbinsville, or wherever is closest to you. You get a full treatment plan explaining what’s going on, what to take, and when to follow up. All for $59. You pay after the visit — no payment upfront.

Why Text-Based? Is That Safe?

I get this question a lot, so here’s the deal.

For the conditions I treat, text-based telemedicine is not only safe — it’s often better than a rushed 5-minute video call. Here’s why:

• You can describe symptoms at your own pace — no pressure from a ticking clock on a video call
• You can send photos — rashes, throat, ear symptoms… a picture tells me a lot
• There’s a written record — everything is documented in our conversation
• You can reply on your schedule — text at 6 AM before your shift, or at 10 PM after the kids are in bed
• Works even with spotty mountain cell service — text messages go through even when a video call would buffer and drop. If you’ve ever tried FaceTiming from Robbinsville, you know what I mean.
• All communication is HIPAA compliant — your health information is protected

The conditions I treat via text are well-established, clinically straightforward conditions where a detailed symptom history gives me everything I need to make a safe, accurate diagnosis. I’m not guessing — I’m applying the same clinical decision-making I use in my day job at a vascular office.

Your prescription gets sent directly to your nearest pharmacy — Murphy, Hayesville, Robbinsville, Andrews, or wherever works for you.

Your Neighbor Who Happens to Be Your NP

Here’s what makes NPCWoods different from every other telemedicine service you’ll find online.

Most telehealth companies are based in San Francisco or New York. The provider you talk to has never been to North Carolina, let alone Cherokee County. They don’t know that the pharmacy in Robbinsville has different hours than the one in Murphy. They don’t know that “I live up on the mountain past Hayesville” means your nearest anything is 40 minutes away. They don’t understand what it means to live in a healthcare desert.

I do. Because I live here too.

I moved to this area because I love these mountains and this community. I’m not a faceless corporation. I’m the guy you might see at the grocery store or at the lake. And when you text me about your symptoms, I’m bringing that local understanding to your care — plus the clinical expertise of a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner.

Who Is This For?

NPCWoods is for anyone in North Carolina who wants quality healthcare without the usual barriers. But honestly? I see a few types of people over and over:

• Mountain residents without easy clinic access — if the nearest doctor is 30+ minutes away, your phone is your best healthcare tool
• Uninsured North Carolinians — you shouldn’t have to choose between rent and a doctor visit
• High-deductible plan holders — if you’re paying $5,000 before insurance kicks in, $59 makes a lot more sense than a $250 urgent care visit that goes straight to your deductible anyway
• Busy working families — taking half a day off to drive to the nearest walk-in clinic isn’t an option for everyone
• Seasonal residents and tourists — visiting the Smokies or Nantahala and you get sick? I can treat you as long as you’re physically in NC
• Anyone in rural NC — from Murphy to Robbinsville, Hayesville to Andrews — and everywhere across the state

Where We Serve

I’m licensed and actively practicing telemedicine in:

• North Carolina — my home state and primary practice. Serving Murphy, Hayesville, Robbinsville, Andrews, Franklin, Bryson City, Sylva, and all of NC statewide.
• Georgia — serving patients across the state, including our neighbors just across the line in Towns County and Union County
• Arizona — serving patients statewide

You need to be physically located in one of these states at the time of your visit. If you’re in North Carolina — whether you live here full-time, you’re visiting the mountains, or you’re a college student at WCU — I can treat you.

What NPCWoods Is Not

I believe in being radically transparent, so let me also tell you what I don’t do:

• I’m not an emergency service — if it’s an emergency, call 911 or go to the ER
• I don’t prescribe controlled substances — no Xanax, no Adderall, no opioids
• I’m not a replacement for a primary care provider — I’m your go-to for acute issues, not long-term chronic disease management
• I won’t treat you if it’s not safe to do so remotely — if I think you need to be seen in person, I’ll say so. I’d rather lose $59 than put you at risk.

That last point matters. A lot of telemedicine services will treat anyone just to make the sale. I won’t. If your case is too complex or too risky for text-based care, I’ll refer you to the right provider — and I probably know them personally, because this is a small community.

Real Talk: Is $59 Too Good to Be True?

I hear this all the time. “What’s the catch?” There isn’t one. Here’s how I keep the price at $59:

• No office overhead — no lease, no front desk staff, no waiting room to maintain
• Text-based visits are efficient — I can evaluate your symptoms thoroughly without the 15 minutes of small talk and vitals that happen at a clinic
• No insurance billing — insurance companies add layers of cost and complexity. By keeping it cash-pay, I eliminate all of that
• I actually care about access — I live in this community. I see what happens when people can’t afford care. This isn’t a side hustle — it’s personal.

$59 is the real price. No upsells, no surprise lab fees, no “oh by the way” charges. If I can help you, it’s $59. If I can’t, you don’t pay.