New Patient Information
Welcome. Here is what to expect when you schedule with the only board certified infectious disease group serving Northwest Arkansas.
How to Schedule Your First Appointment
New patient appointments at our practice are by physician referral only. Your primary care physician, specialist, or hospital provider sends us a referral form along with your relevant records. Once we receive the referral, our scheduling team will contact you within a few business days to verify insurance and schedule your visit. New patient appointments are typically scheduled within one to three weeks of receipt of the referral, with sooner availability for urgent issues. Our office is in Fayetteville and serves patients from across Northwest Arkansas. If you are unsure how to request a referral, ask your primary care office to fax or electronically transmit a referral to our practice, or call us at (479) 444-6522 for guidance.
Paperwork Before Your Visit
We send new patient forms to complete before your first appointment, either by mail, email link, or through our patient portal. Completing the paperwork in advance saves time and lets us focus on you during the visit. The forms cover your medical history, allergies, current medications, prior surgeries, family history, and the reason you are being seen. If you have recent labs, imaging, biopsy reports, or culture results, please send copies to our office before the appointment or bring them with you. Records from your referring provider help us avoid repeating tests you have already had.
What to Bring
Bring a photo ID, your insurance card, and a list of all your current medications including doses and how often you take them. Include over the counter medications, herbal supplements, and vitamins. Bring records of any vaccinations relevant to your visit. If you are seeing us about a specific infection, bring any culture results, imaging reports, hospital discharge summaries, or operative notes. If you have been treated by other infectious disease specialists in the past, bring their notes if available. Plan to arrive about 15 minutes before your scheduled time to complete any final paperwork.
Insurance and Costs
We accept most major commercial insurance plans, Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, and Arkansas Medicaid. Our scheduling team verifies your benefits before the appointment and can give you an estimate of your out of pocket cost. Some insurance plans require a referral or prior authorization for specialist visits, and we help coordinate that paperwork. Patients without insurance or with high deductibles can ask about self pay rates and payment plans. For patients with financial difficulty, we have established protocols to help connect you with patient assistance programs and community resources.
What the First Visit Looks Like
Your first visit lasts about 60 minutes. You will meet your physician, review your medical history in detail, discuss your symptoms or the reason you were referred, and complete a physical exam. Lab work is often drawn the same day, and additional testing may be ordered. The physician will explain what they are looking for, the likely diagnoses, and the recommended next steps. If treatment can begin immediately, you will receive prescriptions and clear written instructions. Follow up appointments are scheduled before you leave so you know what comes next.
How to Prepare
Write down your questions before the visit. It is easy to forget what you wanted to ask once you are in the room. If a family member or friend can come with you, that is helpful, especially for complex cases or if hearing all the information yourself feels overwhelming. Wear loose clothing if a physical exam might involve a specific area. Eat a normal meal beforehand unless you have been told to fast for labs. If you have anxiety about medical visits, tell our staff and we can take extra time to make you comfortable. There are no foolish questions in our office.
Common Questions from Our Patients
Do I need a referral to be seen?
Yes. All new patient appointments require a physician referral. Ask your primary care physician, specialist, or hospital provider to send a referral to our office. Once received, our scheduling team will verify your insurance benefits and contact you to schedule. We do not accept self-referrals or walk-ins for new patient intake.
What insurance do you accept?
We accept most major commercial insurance plans, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Arkansas Medicaid. Our scheduling team verifies your specific plan and benefits before the appointment so you know what your out of pocket cost will be. If we are out of network with your plan, we will tell you in advance and discuss options. Self pay rates are available for patients without coverage, and we can connect patients with financial difficulty to assistance programs.
How soon can I be seen?
Routine new patient appointments are typically scheduled within one to three weeks. Urgent cases such as recent hospital discharge, active infections requiring immediate management, or suspected serious infections are often seen within a few days, sometimes the same week. When the referring physician marks a request as urgent, our scheduling team prioritizes it. If your symptoms worsen while waiting for an appointment, call us and we can usually find earlier availability or guide you to the right setting.
Where is your office located?
Our office is at 4038 N Remington Drive, Suite 4, Fayetteville, AR 72703. All new patient consultations, follow up visits, and our infusion center are based at this Fayetteville location. We serve patients from across Northwest Arkansas, and your records stay together in one electronic medical record system throughout your care.
What should I do if I need to cancel or reschedule?
Please call our office at (479) 444-6522 as soon as you know you need to change an appointment. We ask for at least 24 hours notice when possible so we can offer the time slot to another patient who is waiting. Frequent late cancellations or no shows can affect your ability to schedule future appointments. If a true emergency prevents you from giving advance notice, just call us as soon as you can and we will work with you to reschedule promptly.