Alice Campbell Havre Daily News acampbell@havredailynews.com
Hi-Line residents will soon be able to receive oncology and internal medicine services in Havre instead of making the trek to Great Falls. The Sletten Cancer Center, in association with Benefis, will open its doors on a large scale beginning March 1. A team of five physicians will facilitate surgeries and treatments pertaining to ontological and internal concerns. Originally an Oncologist and Internist at Northern Montana Hospital for the past two years, Dr. Roy Hall will now apply his more than 20 years of professional experience at the center as a full-time physician. In addition to mainstream medical practices, Hall plans to integrate alternative treatments including acupuncture, Chinese medicine and nutritional intervention into patient treatment plans. Despite a general perception that alternative methods are used instead of normal methods versus in conjunction with those methods, Hall plans to combine various methods. "I tend to call it integrated medicine," he said. The combinations reduce side effects and enhance the healing process, Hall added. Hall began learning the "integrated" methods he uses in the mid-90s while working under Dr. Simmonton, a radiologist in Texas, for four years. Next Hall worked with Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Chicago. It was there that he began, "learning the value of acupuncture and learning acupuncture," Hall said. He went on to take and attain boards in acupuncture and is the only doctor in Montana to have done so. Hall is looking forward to accepting more patients. "I'm excited about the association with Sletten Cancer Center and the association of doctors," Hall said. He will be working with four other doctors: Dr. Grant W. Harrer, Dr. Brian L. Abbott, Dr. Donald Berdeaux and Dr. Kelly J. Underhill. Between the five of them, the doctors will be able to provide, "Ninety-five percent of cancer care the Hi-Line needs here," Hall said. Some patients with unusual cases will still be required to travel to Great Falls for treatment. Hall also praised the nursing staff at the center when he said, "The nursing personnel is equal to what I had in Chicago." "I'm looking forward to continuing excellent service on the Hi-Line," Hall said. To make an appointment with any of the center's doctors, call 262-6000 or ask to be referred by their physician. The center is located at 40 W. 13th St., Havre, MT 59501.
