Sam A. Baker State Park Historic District · Photo: Kbh3rd · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Des Arc residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Des Arc, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Des Arc. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Des Arc
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Des Arc
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12%), vs 8% across Missouri. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.3%), vs 6.8% across Missouri. Stroke is also above the state: 4.9%, vs 3.6% across Missouri. In all, Des Arc runs above Missouri on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Des Arc
53.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 20.2% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Des Arc’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Des Arc
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (22.6%), vs 16% across Missouri. Habits ↓
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 Missouri figure falls outside Des Arc’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Des Arc adults…
Des Arc runs above MO on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Des Arc adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri
Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near Des Arc
No hospital or community health center in Des Arc 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 Des Arc; ≈ 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).
How Des Arc adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Des Arc runs above Missouri.
1 in 3 Des Arc 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.
15.3% of Des Arc adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Des Arc 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 Des Arc adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Des Arc
Why doesn’t Des Arc have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Des Arc.
What hospital is closest to Des Arc?
Iron County Medical Center in Pilot Knob, 23.5 miles in a straight line from Des Arc’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 Des Arc?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Missouri Highlands Health Care - Annapolis in Annapolis, 6.4 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Des Arc.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Missouri 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.