Nephrology
At Westchester Health, our Nephrology Department contains board trained and certified physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disorders. They study and treat conditions that affect the kidneys (such as diabetes and autoimmune disease) as well as those that occur as a result of kidney problems (such as renal osteodystrophy and hypertension).
Our nephrologists all have extensive experience in their field, using the latest technology and techniques to treat and provide the highest quality care for a wide range of kidney disorders, including chronic kidney disease, kidney stones and dialysis.
Prevention as well as treatment
At Westchester Health, our focus is not only on the evaluation and treatment of kidney-related disorders but also on preventative care. In addition to providing the highest quality of kidney function care, we also focus on educating you and your family about lifestyle changes you can make to control, improve or even eradicate your kidney disorder.
What makes Westchester Health’s Nephrology Department different?
At Westchester Health, we firmly believe that good treatment starts with good listening. We also believe that the best patient is an informed patient, and that patient education is critical to your long-term health.
From the first time you arrive at our offices, we spend as much time with you and your family as is necessary to make sure you understand your condition, the diagnostic tests we are recommending and all of your treatment options. Throughout your journey with us, we will continue to explain our recommended course of treatment and answer any questions you may have so that you understand what to expect.
Whether you have been with Westchester Health for years or are new to our practice, you quickly recognize that our Nephrology group truly cares about each and every one of our patients. When you need us, we are here for you.
Always at the forefront of medicine
The world of medicine continues to change and evolve, especially regarding nephrology. As part of Northwell Health, our nephrologists participate in its Department of Nephrology training programs, making sure they are continually up-to-date on the newest breakthrough treatments for our patients’ kidney disorders.
Nephrologists are experts at treating a variety of kidney disorders, including:
Chronic kidney disease involves the loss of kidney function over time. Since the main function of the kidneys is to remove waste and excess water from the body, chronic kidney disease causes a buildup of these waste products and fluids. In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, there may be no symptoms, but in the final stage of chronic kidney disease, known as end-stage renal disease, the kidneys cease to function. At this point, the patient needs kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant. To read more, click here for our most recent blogs.
DialysisWhen the kidneys fail, dialysis keeps the body in balance by removing waste, salt and extra water to prevent them from building up; keeping the correct level of certain chemicals in your blood, such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate; and helping to control blood pressure. There are two types of machine-assisted dialysis that effectively “clean” the blood—hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis—which can be done in a hospital, in a dialysis unit or at home.
Kidney stonesA kidney stone is a solid mass of crystals that forms from excreted substances in the urine and is one of the most painful and common disorders of the urinary tract. One or more kidney stones may form simultaneously and remain in the kidney, or break loose and travel down the urinary tract. Kidney stones may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. Smaller stones may pass out of the body without problems but larger ones can get stuck in a ureter, the bladder or the urethra. This can prevent urine from flowing and also cause excruciating pain. Treatment of large stones includes using sound waves or a scope to break them up, or surgery.
Kidney transplantA kidney transplant is often the treatment of choice for patients with kidney failure versus a lifetime on dialysis. Compared to dialysis, kidney transplantation can give a person better quality of life, lower risk of death, fewer dietary restrictions and lower treatment cost. Only one donated kidney is needed to replace two failed kidneys, which makes living-donor kidney transplantation a viable option. If a compatible living donor is not available, a deceased donor is another possibility.
We also treat the following kidney-related conditions:
- Congenital kidney defects
- Diabetic kidney disease
- End-stage renal disease
- Glomerular disease
- Goodpasture syndrome
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome
- Hypertension and chronic kidney disease
- Kidney vascular disease
- Nephritis
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Proteinuria (also called albuminuria or urine albumin)
- Retroperitoneal fibrosis (also called Ormond’s disease)