Where Pencil Bluff residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Pencil Bluff, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pencil Bluff. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pencil Bluff
COPD, arthritis and stroke run high in Pencil Bluff
1 in 7 adults have COPD (13.7%), vs 8.6% across Arkansas. 2 in 5 adults have arthritis (39.4%), vs 28.5% across Arkansas. Stroke is also above the state: 5.4%, vs 4% across Arkansas. In all, Pencil Bluff runs above Arkansas on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 28 miles from Pencil Bluff
The closest emergency room is Mena Regional Health System in Mena, 27.7 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Healthy Connections is closer (7.9 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Pencil Bluff, and more people treating it
48.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Arkansas 41.4%), but 82.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Arkansas figure falls outside Pencil Bluff’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Pencil Bluff adults…
Pencil Bluff runs above AR on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Pencil Bluff
No hospital or community health center in Pencil Bluff itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Pencil Bluff; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Pencil Bluff adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Arkansas
Share of adults, with the Arkansas figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Pencil Bluff adults are doing
About the same as Arkansas on each measure.
1 in 3 Pencil Bluff adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15% of Pencil Bluff adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Pencil Bluff and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pencil Bluff adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Pencil Bluff
Why doesn’t Pencil Bluff have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Pencil Bluff.
What hospital is closest to Pencil Bluff?
Mena Regional Health System in Mena, 27.7 miles in a straight line from Pencil Bluff’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Pencil Bluff?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Montgomery County Community Clinic in Mount Ida, 7.9 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Pencil Bluff.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Arkansas figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.