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Where we are
Digestive & Liver Center of Arkansas sees patients at one clinic in south Fort Smith, on Old Greenwood Road, with our Fort Smith gastroenterology physician. 3416 Old Greenwood Rd, Fort Smith, AR 72903 Phone: (479) 242-2888 We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and closed on weekends and major holidays.
What happens here
Digestive consultations, colonoscopy and upper endoscopy, colon cancer screening, hemorrhoid evaluation and banding, and follow-up visits all take place here, in the clinic and in our on-site endoscopy center. Liver care is here too, along with our medical weight loss program: liver consultations, FibroScan testing, fatty liver and MASH care, hepatitis follow-up, and weight and metabolic visits. See clinic details, parking and directions.
Areas we serve
Patients travel to us from across the Arkansas River Valley and eastern Oklahoma:
- Fort Smith: our home address, 3416 Old Greenwood Rd
- Van Buren: a short drive, typically under 15 minutes
- Greenwood: typically under 20 minutes
- Alma: typically 20 to 25 minutes
- Barling: a short drive, typically under 15 minutes
- Charleston: typically around 30 minutes
- Ozark: typically 35 to 40 minutes
- Poteau, OK: around half an hour
- Sallisaw, OK: closer to forty minutes Drive times are approximate and depend on traffic. See directions and parking for the Fort Smith clinic.
Seeing patients from Poteau, Sallisaw and eastern Oklahoma
Fort Smith sits on the state line, and for much of eastern Oklahoma we are the nearest gastroenterology and liver care there is. From Poteau the drive is around half an hour; from Sallisaw, closer to forty minutes. That is materially less than the trip to Tulsa or Oklahoma City, and it is the reason a good share of our patients cross the border for a colonoscopy, a FibroScan or a hemorrhoid appointment and are home the same morning. Two practical things make that easier. We accept Oklahoma Medicaid (SoonerCare) as well as Arkansas Medicaid, which is not true of every specialist in the region. Our staff verifies your plan before the visit rather than at the front desk, and the full payer list is on the insurance page. And most plans do not require a referral, so you can call us directly rather than waiting on a primary care appointment first. Procedures are done at our own endoscopy center, so a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy does not mean a separate hospital registration on a different day. If you are driving in for a procedure, tell the scheduler where you are coming from, since sedation means you will need a ride home, and we will place your appointment early enough in the day to make the trip work.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral?
For most plans, no. Some require a referral from your primary care provider, and our staff will tell you when they verify your benefits before the visit.
Is there parking?
Yes, free surface parking, with accessible spaces near the entrance. There is no parking garage and no shuttle.
What should I bring to my first visit?
Your insurance card, a photo ID, a list of your current medications and doses, and any recent imaging or lab results you have, particularly liver enzymes, ultrasound or CT reports, and prior colonoscopy or endoscopy reports.
Do you take Oklahoma Medicaid?
Yes. We accept Oklahoma Medicaid (SoonerCare), including the Aetna Better Health, Humana Healthy Horizons and Oklahoma Complete Health plans, alongside Arkansas Medicaid, Medicare, HealthChoice and commercial plans such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Humana and Ambetter. Our staff verifies your specific plan before your visit, so you know what is covered before you drive over. The insurance page has the full list.
I live in Poteau, is it worth driving to Fort Smith?
That is your call, but the arithmetic usually favors it: Fort Smith is roughly thirty minutes from Poteau and forty from Sallisaw, against two hours or more to Tulsa. Consultations, colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, FibroScan and in-office hemorrhoid banding all happen under one roof, so most people make one trip rather than several.
Is there a gastroenterologist in Poteau or Sallisaw?
Not locally. Digestive & Liver Center of Arkansas in Fort Smith is the nearest full GI and liver practice for most of eastern Oklahoma, roughly thirty minutes from Poteau and forty from Sallisaw, well short of the drive to Tulsa or Oklahoma City.
Can I have my colonoscopy in Fort Smith and go home the same day?
Yes. Colonoscopy is done in our own on-site endoscopy center, and most patients go home the same morning once sedation has worn off enough to travel safely. Plan to have someone drive you.
Do I need a referral or prior authorization from SoonerCare to see a doctor in Fort Smith?
Most plans do not require a referral to schedule with us. Prior authorization requirements can vary by SoonerCare plan and by service, so our staff verifies your specific coverage before your visit rather than leaving you to guess.
Book a visit
Call (479) 242-2888, or request an appointment and we will call you back.