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outpatient nephrology consultation
inpatient nephrology consultation
dialysis: nocturnal, peritoneal, hemodialysis
kidney transplantation
vascular access
chronic kidney disease management
Out-patient nephrology consultation
This service is usually provided after you have been told by your primary care physician or another health care provider that you have decreased kidney function. You will be evaluated by a kidney specialist, nephrologist who will obtain your medical history, perform a physical exam, and obtain appropriate blood work to help determine the cause of your decreased renal function. Once a diagnosis has been established, the nephrologist will see you on a routine basis to continue implementation of your treatment plan. Our goal is to maintain good health and slow down progression of kidney disease and decrease risk for complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
In-patient nephrology consultation
This service is provided during a hospital admission once your attending physician or another specialist in the hospital consults a kidney specialist, also known as a nephrologist. During the consultation, the nephrologist will obtain your medical history, perform a physical exam, and obtain appropriate blood work to determine the cause of your renal insufficiency to adequately treat your condition. During your admission, the nephrologist will follow you on a routine basis to treat your existing condition and may ask you to follow-up with him or her on an outpatient basis as needed.
People with Chronic Kidney Disease can progress to renal failure, also known as End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). At this stage, kidney function is not sufficient to sustain life. The three ways to treat ESRD are hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and transplantation.
Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis is a process of removing chemical substances and water from the blood by passing it through an artificial kidney composed of a semi-permeable membrane. This is usually done 3 times per week for 4 hours. There are several types of hemodialysis:
Peritoneal Dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis is the process of removing chemical substances and water from the body using the semi-permeable membrane of the peritoneum for dialysis. A catheter is placed into the abdomen, fluid is run into the abdomen and dwells there for a specific time and is drained out. This is done seven days a week at home. There are two types of peritoneal dialysis:
Renal transplantation is another treatment for ESRD. Patients receive a kidney from a living-related, living non-related, or cadaver donor. The success rate is high, but patients must stay on anti-rejection medications for the life of the kidney. Not all patients are candidates for this procedure.
Chronic Kidney Disease Management
Chronic kidney disease is a condition in which there is an impairment of kidney function. The two main causes of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure. The goal of CKD is to maintain good health and slow down progression of kidney disease and decrease risk for complications of CKD, diabetes, and hypertension. Treatment goals for CKD include: