Nephrology Care

Sarah Bush Lincoln partners with RenalCare Associates for nephrology care and services to the community. RenalCare Associates is a well-known group with a tremendous reputation for nephrology care. 

Services will be implemented in three phases:

• Inpatient consults through advanced telehealth technology began in April.
• Providing inpatient dialysis resources
• Expanding outpatient care with RenalCare Associates nephrologist on site

What is nephrology?

Nephrology is the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the kidneys. Healthcare providers who specialize in kidney disease are called nephrologists. Other health providers who treat kidney problems include primary care providers, pediatricians, transplant specialists, and urologists.

What causes problems with the kidneys? 

Problems with the kidneys may include health conditions, such as kidney failure, kidney stones, and kidney cancer. These problems with the kidneys may be caused by: 

• Aging. As we age, changes in the structure of the kidneys can cause them to lose some of their ability to remove wastes from the blood. The muscles in the ureters, bladder, and urethra also tend to lose some of their strength. But this alone does not cause chronic kidney diseases. 

• Illness or injury. Damage to the kidneys caused by illness, inflammation, immune responses, or an injury can also prevent them from filtering the blood completely or block the passage of urine. Diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) are leading causes of kidney disease. 

• Toxicity. The kidneys may be damaged by substances, such as certain medicines, a buildup of some substances in the body, or toxic substances such as poisons. 

About kidney and urogenital diseases 

Diseases of the kidney and urinary tract remain a major cause of illness and death in the U.S. The National Kidney Foundation states that more than 37 million Americans are affected by chronic kidney diseases. Millions more are at risk. 

What are the symptoms of kidney disease? 

Each person may have different symptoms. But these are the most common symptoms of kidney disease: 

• Frequent headaches
• Fatigue
• Itchiness all over the body 
• Blood in the urine
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Puffiness around eyes, swelling of hands and feet 
• Skin may darken
• Muscle cramps or pain in small of back just below the ribs (not aggravated by movement) 
• High blood pressure

These symptoms may look like other health problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.