When to See an Infectious Disease Specialist

Infectious Disease Specialists of Northwest Arkansas (NWAIDS) is the only dedicated infectious disease medical practice in NWA, established in 2003 by Dr. Stephen Hennigan. Dr. Hennigan is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Infectious Disease and is supported by certified nurse practitioners. The practice consults at hospitals across the region and provides outpatient care from our Fayetteville office. New patient intake is by physician referral only. Learn more about our practice.

You should see an infectious disease specialist when you have an infection that is difficult to diagnose, not responding to standard treatment, requires specialized medications, or involves antibiotic resistance. Common reasons for referral include unexplained fever, complex pneumonia, bone and joint infections, endocarditis, sepsis, and infections that have not improved with initial treatment. Your primary care physician or hospital provider can refer you when specialized expertise is needed.

We treat bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. This includes MRSA and other antibiotic resistant organisms, pneumonia, sepsis and bloodstream infections, bone and joint infections (osteomyelitis, septic arthritis), endocarditis, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, travel related infections, tropical diseases, central nervous system infections, surgical wound infections, and unexplained fever. See our services page for the complete current list.

We are the only dedicated infectious disease medical practice in Northwest Arkansas. We consult at hospitals throughout the region, but we also provide continuity of outpatient care in our offices. This allows us to follow patients from hospitalization through complete recovery, manage chronic infections long term, and provide services like our physician supervised infusion center that hospital outpatient departments typically cannot match.

For medical emergencies, always call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. For urgent but non-emergency concerns after business hours, call our main number at (479) 444-6522 and follow the prompts to reach the on-call physician. Our office is staffed Tuesday through Friday (closed Monday): Tuesday and Wednesday 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Thursday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and Friday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Yes. New patient intake at our practice is by physician referral only. Please ask your primary care physician, specialist, or hospital provider to send a referral to our office. We do not accept self-referrals or walk-ins for new patient appointments. If you have questions about how to obtain a referral, ask your primary care office to fax or electronically transmit a referral to our practice, or call our office for guidance.

Please bring your photo identification, insurance card, referral paperwork if applicable, a complete list of all current medications (including over the counter drugs and supplements), any relevant medical records or imaging studies, and a list of questions for your physician. Arriving 15 minutes early allows time to complete paperwork.

Your physician will review your medical history and the reason for your visit in detail. They will perform a physical examination and review any test results or imaging you bring. Based on this evaluation, they may order additional testing, recommend a treatment plan, or provide a consultation report to your referring physician. The visit typically lasts 30 to 60 minutes.

Yes, we offer telehealth appointments for appropriate follow up visits and consultations where a physical examination is not required. Contact our office to determine if telehealth is suitable for your specific needs. New patient evaluations typically require an in person visit.

You can request records from your previous providers and bring them to your appointment, or you can sign a release form allowing us to request records on your behalf. Contact our office at (479) 444-6522 for our records release form. We recommend requesting records at least one week before your appointment.

Infusion therapy is the administration of medication directly into the bloodstream through an IV line. Our Fayetteville infusion center provides outpatient IV antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and nutritional support (TPN) under direct physician supervision. This allows patients to receive IV medications without being hospitalized.

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop the ability to survive antibiotics that previously killed them. Common resistant organisms include MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and VRE (vancomycin resistant Enterococcus). Dr. Hennigan has specialized training to select alternative antibiotics and combination therapies that can overcome resistance patterns when standard treatments fail.

Yes, we provide travel medicine consultations including destination specific risk assessments and vaccinations. We offer yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis A and B, and other travel vaccines. We also prescribe malaria prophylaxis and other preventive medications. Schedule your travel consultation at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure when possible.

All staff at Infectious Disease Specialists of NWA are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We follow current CDC guidelines for infection prevention in healthcare settings to protect our patients, many of whom may be immunocompromised. If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms, please call before arriving so we can provide appropriate instructions.

We accept most major insurance plans including Medicare. Please contact our office at (479) 444-6522 to verify that we accept your specific insurance plan before your appointment. Our staff will work with your insurance to verify coverage and obtain prior authorization when required.

Yes, our staff can assist with patient assistance programs for expensive medications, particularly IV antibiotics and other specialty therapies. Many pharmaceutical companies offer copay assistance or free medication programs for qualifying patients. Let us know if cost is a concern and we will explore available options.

Please contact our office to discuss self pay options and available resources. For certain conditions, state and community programs may help cover the cost of care and medications. Our staff can help connect you with appropriate resources.