Skin Infection Care in Hilo & Across Hawaiʻi — Medicaid (QUEST) Accepted
From minor sores to cellulitis, skin infections are common and treatable. Here is how we evaluate and manage them.
Skin infections happen when bacteria get past the skin’s protective barrier, causing redness, warmth, swelling, and pain, as in cellulitis, abscesses, and infected wounds. Most are very treatable, but some spread quickly and need prompt attention. At Ohana Care Clinic in Hilo, we evaluate skin infections, treat them appropriately, and know when more urgent care is needed.
What skin infections are
The skin is the body’s first line of defense, and when a cut, bite, scrape, or other break lets bacteria in, an infection can develop. Cellulitis is a spreading redness, warmth, and swelling of the skin and tissue beneath it. An abscess is a pocket of pus that often needs to be drained. In Hawaiʻi’s warm, moist climate and active outdoor life, minor skin breaks are common, so knowing the warning signs is useful.
How we evaluate and treat them
We assess a skin infection by how it looks and feels and by your symptoms, following the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s guidance on diagnosis and treatment. Many simple abscesses are best treated by draining them, sometimes without antibiotics, while spreading infections like cellulitis usually need antibiotics chosen for the likely bacteria. We tailor treatment to the type and severity, and we watch for signs that an infection needs more aggressive care.
When to be seen urgently
Some skin infections are emergencies. Seek care right away for rapidly spreading redness, severe pain out of proportion to how things look, fever, or an infection near the eyes, or if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system. We offer same-day visits and can guide you by telehealth when a photo and history are enough to start.
Culturally grounded care
We care for the whole person, in the spirit of lōkahi — balance and harmony among the connected parts of life: the body, the mind and emotions, the spirit, the ʻohana (family), and our relationship with the ʻāina (land) and community. In a Native Hawaiian understanding of health, these are not separate, and neither is our care. To mālama (care for and protect) your wellbeing and to live pono (in balance and rightness), we listen to your whole story, welcome your ʻohana into the process, and honor the values and traditions that ground you. Offering kōkua (help given freely, with aloha) in a way that respects who you are is at the heart of how we practice.
Insurance and how we see you
We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaiʻi QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, the Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA), ʻOhana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance, and we are accepting new patients in Hilo. Primary care works best as a partnership. Your first visit is in person at our Hilo clinic. We see patients in person for physical exams, vitals, and lab work, and we use telehealth for follow-up visits, medication management, and chronic-disease check-ins whenever it is clinically appropriate.
Common questions about skin infections
What is cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection that causes spreading redness, warmth, swelling, and tenderness, usually after a break in the skin. It typically needs antibiotics and should be evaluated promptly if it is spreading.
Does every skin infection need antibiotics?
No. Following Infectious Diseases Society of America guidance, many simple abscesses are treated mainly by drainage, while spreading infections like cellulitis usually need antibiotics. We match treatment to the type and severity.
When is a skin infection an emergency?
Seek care right away for rapidly spreading redness, severe pain, fever, infection near the eyes, or if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system. These can signal a serious, fast-moving infection.
What insurance do you accept?
We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaii QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, HMSA, Ohana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance. We are accepting new patients in Hilo.
References
Stevens, D. L., Bisno, A. L., Chambers, H. F., Dellinger, E. P., Goldstein, E. J. C., Gorbach, S. L., et al. (2014). Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 59(2), e10–e52. https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/59/2/e10/2895845
Papa Ola Lōkahi. (n.d.). Native Hawaiian health. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.papaolalokahi.org/
This page is general health education from Ohana Care Clinic, written by George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP. It is not a substitute for a personal evaluation by a qualified clinician who knows your situation, and reading it does not create a provider–patient relationship. If you think you may have a medical condition, reach out to us or another licensed provider. In an emergency, call 911.
George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP — President & Owner
