Nephrology

The nephrology (kidney care) services of St. Elizabeth Physicians are designed to improve the lives of patients with kidney failure, hypertension, diabetes, protein or blood in the urine, water retention, and/or electrolyte abnormalities.
 
We are committed to providing you with high quality, life improving, and cost-effective care. We do this by utilizing our medical expertise to uncover the key insights that lead to an accurate diagnosis and efficient treatments. Our specialized medical care treats patients with a variety of kidney related disorders, including:

• Chronic kidney failure or chronic kidney disease (chronic renal disease)—Conditions that result from a progressive loss of kidney function that is often caused by diabetes, hypertension, or both 
• Dialysis (renal replacement therapy) A treatment necessary when failing kidneys are not adequately removing the toxins of the blood and/or properly managing the body fluids

Peritoneal dialysis is an alternative in-home treatment that can be conducted in a safe and effective manner while providing minimal disruption to the lives of patients and their families. It also helps patients maintain their independence, flexibility and regular day-to-day activities. We help coordinate and supervise treatments for hemodialysis (chronic dialysis treatment) in outpatient facilities throughout the area.

To help identify and provide the best treatment options for you, if you have kidney failure or are undergoing dialysis support, our kidney specialists will assemble a multi-disciplinary team focused on you, consisting of family, primary care providers, as well as other specialists including radiologists and vascular surgeons. If necessary, you will be referred for kidney transplant evaluations in a timely manner.

Our kidney care services also include management and treatment of: 

• Hypertension or elevated blood pressure 
• Water retention (edema) 
• Anemia (low blood cell count, low hemoglobin) related to kidney failure 
• Electrolyte abnormalities related to kidney failure, such as high or low levels of sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron 
• Protein in the urine 
• Medical management of kidney stones 
• Medical management of hematuria (presence of blood in the urine) 
• Polycystic kidney disease (a kidney disorder passed down through families in which multiple cysts form on the kidneys, causing them to become enlarged)