Patient Services

We look forward to the opportunity to serve your health care needs. Our goal is to treat you in a respectful and responsive manner. Our physicians have excellent credentials, and we seek to care for all of our patients in a compassionate, friendly atmosphere.

If you have an HMO type of insurance, you will probably need to obtain a referral to our specialist office. If you have lab tests performed in the weeks preceding your appointment with us, please try to bring a copy of the results with you. We normally take care of registration and co-payments as patients check-in so we can focus the end of the visit on clinical issues. We accept checks, cash, and most credit cards.

Thank you for considering our office for your Nephrology care and we look forward to seeing you.

24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

In certain patients whose blood pressure varies significantly during the day or is unusually elevated in medical offices (white coat hypertension), 24-hour blood pressure monitoring is a helpful diagnostic tool. An automated device measures blood pressure at the arm at regular intervals throughout the day and night of the study period while the patient goes about normal day-to-day activities. The results are analyzed by our physicians, who use the information to recommend the appropriate anti-hypertensive regimen.

Treating Anemia

Anemia or low blood count is a common consequence of decreased kidney function. The kidneys produce erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that stimulates bone marrow to make red blood cells. As kidney function declines, EPO levels drop and patients become anemic. Supplementation of EPO either as Procrit or Aranesp can improve anemia and its symptoms including fatigue. These medications are administered in our office as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection.

Administration of Iron

Iron is needed by the body to produce red blood cells. Patients with decreased kidney function often do not have adequate iron levels for blood cell production. Iron deficiency contributes to the anemia that is common in kidney insufficiency (see above discussion of erythropoietin). Our patients can have their iron levels effectively restored by receiving iron intravenously (into a vein). Feraheme, a type of intravenous iron, is administered in our office.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Education Center

The Center for Kidney Care is dedicated to providing comprehensive management of kidney disorders. Patients with moderate to severe impairment of kidney function are referred to our CKD Center for management of anemia (discussed above) and the changes in bone and mineral metabolism associated with declining kidney function, the administration of vaccines, and renal nutrition counseling. Our CKD Center provides extensive education to assist patients in choosing among options for renal replacement therapy: kidney transplantation; in-home dialysis, including peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis; and in-center hemodialysis. We are committed to helping our patients choose the appropriate dialysis modality to meet the individual’s needs. Early referral for transplantation and/or dialysis access placement is a fundamental component of this patient service. Patients who may need dialysis should be scheduled for dialysis access surgery at least four to six months prior to starting dialysis.

Prescription Refills

Prescription refills normally require 48 hours advance notice.