GRAVETTE — In recognition of National Healthy Skin Month, Ozarks Community Hospital of Gravette is offering free skin cancer screenings on Thursday, Nov. 21. Dr. Hilton McDonald, who specializes in identifying and treating skin cancer, will be performing the evaluations.
The screenings will be from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday at the OCH Specialty Clinic, located on the second floor of the hospital in Gravette. Those interested in participating should contact the hospital at 479-344-6870 to reserve an appointment.
McDonald, who has helped hundreds of skin cancer patients, said people often put off having a spot on their skin checked, and these screenings will allow patients the peace of mind to determine if the spot is benign or if further treatment is necessary.
“A lot of people have a spot on their arm or their face and don’t think anything about it — they just choose to live with it,” McDonald said. “Having those spots checked will help your quality of life to know if treatment is needed.”
A follow-up appointment can be scheduled if further treatment is needed following the free screening. Dr. McDonald will discuss options with each patient.
Even if someone has a spot that isn’t cancerous, there are opportunities for removal. McDonald said he has helped many patients who want to have large and small growths removed from their body, and insurance often covers the procedures.
“People don’t have to live with those brown spots that have developed on their body,” said McDonald, who also specializes in reconstructive plastic surgery. “It can be life-changing to have them removed.”
A native of Prescott who has a passion for treating rural patients, Dr. McDonald is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia and received his doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from Oklahoma State University. He also has a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Northern Colorado.
Ozarks Community Hospital is a tri-state safety-net healthcare provider headquartered in Gravette, serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Ozarks. The hospital is based in Gravette and includes a multitude of clinics located in Southwest Missouri, Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma. OCH locations can accept Medicaid, Medicare, UHC Military and other insurances. For more information, visit www.OCHonline.com.