Chronic kidney disease includes a spectrum of diseases with both mild and more severe forms. Just because you were sent to see a nephrologist does not necessarily mean you need dialysis now or in the future.

We're here to help you

At Greater Hartford Nephrology we provide all your kidney care needs for people with all stages of chronic kidney disease. Nephrologists take care of a variety of kidney disorders including:

Kidney Disease & Testing
Genetic Kidney Diseases
Electrolyte Disorders
Hypertension Workup & Management
Kidney Stones
Genetic Kidney Diseases
Pre & Post Transplant Care
Dialysis
Resources & Education

Our Services

RESOURCES & EDUCATION:

We offer care for people getting ready for dialysis and provide education on kidney replacement options including hemodialysis (blood dialysis) in a clinic, home dialysis options including home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. We also provide guidance for kidney transplant evaluation in addition to taking care of you after a kidney transplant.

ELECTROLYTE DISORDERS:

In addition to chronic kidney disease, we care for people with electrolyte disorders, or disorders of the blood chemistry. These problems may include an imbalance of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, acid levels. This is another function of the kidneys.

HYPERTENSION:

At Greater Hartford Nephrology we offer expertise in the care of patients with hypertension (high blood pressure). In addition to blood pressure management, we may also look for other causes of high blood pressure. As part of our integrated hypertension service, we offer 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to better understand the best way to manage your blood pressure.

KIDNEY STONES:

We also take care of people with kidney stones. We will review the type of stone you had and evaluate the urine chemistry to see what is increasing your chance to form kidney stones and offer ways to prevent them.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

I’ve been told I need to see a nephrologist, what does this mean?

Being referred to a nephrologist simply means that your referring provider feels that you can benefit from having a kidney specialist as part of your care team. Our most common referral is to help manage Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). 15% of Americans and over 37 million people in the US have CKD, so you are not alone. Diagnosing and preventing the progression of CKD is our bread and butter. This can be as simple as helping to control your blood pressure and monitoring your laboratory values over time. Being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease can range from a minor loss of normal kidney function to more severe disease.
Do you accept health insurance?

We accept all insurances. Our services will be appropriately coded and should be entirely covered by your insurance company. Copays and deductibles will still apply and are based on your individual plan. Please consult your plan prior to your visit with one of our specialists. We also have a billing department that can be easily contacted should issues arise.
What are the kidneys? How do they work?

Your kidneys are one of the key vital organs in your body. They are each about the size of a fist, and are located adjacent to your spine, underneath the rib cage. The kidneys are also super chemists. Most of the vital electrolytes and ions in your body are regulated by the kidney, minute to minute, day to day, every single day of your life. These include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, acid levels etc - an excess or dearth of any of these could make you critically ill and hence the kidneys assume a primary role in regulating them. For example, excess sodium can make one swollen or have very high blood pressure; low levels of sodium can affect one’s brain function or cause low blood pressure. Click here for more information.
What are the symptoms of kidney failure?

Some symptoms of kidney failure include: Fatigue, poor energy, poor sleep, difficulty concentrating Nausea or vomiting, poor appetite Metallic taste in the mouth Itching Kidney disease does not have any symptoms until it is fairly advanced. It is important to get your blood work done on a routine basis. This is how we monitor kidney function.
What causes kidney failure?

Kidneys can fail for many reasons. In the short term when people are sick or hospitalized, they can develop what is called acute kidney injury. Bleeding, infections, surgery, heart attacks/failure, low blood pressure or toxic medications are common causes. It is a temporary phenomenon in many cases and gets better with medications or other treatments. Kidney disease that evolves over a period of time and lasts for years is called Chronic Kidney Disease. In the Western world, the most common conditions that cause chronic kidney disease are diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure (hypertension). Heart diseases, HIV and some medications (NSAID ones such as ibuprofen or naproxen in particular) can also do this. Certain diseases that run in families such as polycystic kidneys or Alport’s syndrome also cause progressive kidney disease. People with undiagnosed/untreated bladder/prostate problems can end up with kidney damage as the waste products back up all the way into their kidneys preventing them from working ideally. People with cancers (both treated and untreated) can develop kidney damage.
What is the difference between a nephrologist and urologist?

Nephrology is a specialty of internal medicine that deals with problems of the kidney. A nephrologist is an internal medicine doctor of the kidneys. A urologist is a surgeon of the kidney system. You may need to see both a nephrologist and a urologist for care of the kidney system.
What should I expect from my first visit?

On your first visit you should expect to meet one of our nephrologists or APRNs. We do not perform any in office procedures other than routine urinalysis. Please expect to provide a urine specimen. Please bring an accurate list of your medications or the medications themselves. Please feel free to bring a family member for support. We may arrange for additional laboratory tests or radiological exams off site at a later date.
How do I know if I need dialysis?

If you are experiencing any symptoms of kidney failure you may need dialysis. There are other reasons someone may need dialysis, even if they do not have symptoms of kidney failure. These include severe electrolyte imbalances, elevated waste products on lab work, difficulty managing fluid excess in people with congestive heart failure.
What dialysis units and hospitals is our practice affiliated with?

Our providers are affiliated with both DaVita and Fresenius Dialysis units. Our coverage spans from Rocky Hill to Enfield (North to South) and East Hartford to Farmington (East to West). We also have good relationships with other providers outside of our geographic footprint. Our providers round on inpatients at Saint Francis Hospital, Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Center and Hospital for Special Care in Hartford, CT.
Do I have other treatment options besides dialysis?

Our overarching goal is to prevent the need for dialysis and to do everything we can to keep your kidneys healthy. In our practice, we view dialysis as a last resort and bridge to kidney transplant in some cases. Our goal is to stop and/or slow the progression of kidney disease via preventative measures such as blood pressure control, kidney protective medications and avoidance of toxic medications to the kidneys. In cases where the kidneys are acutely, or abruptly, injured there are many other treatment modalities that can restore kidney health. Please keep in mind that being evaluated by a nephrologist simply means that you have a provider invested in kidney health and does not mean that you are going to need dialysis.
Do I need a kidney transplant?

How do I know if I need a kidney transplant? Kidney transplant is a form of kidney replacement therapy. When the kidneys fail there are several options for care of end stage kidney disease. These include dialysis and transplant. How does kidney transplant work? You will be referred to a kidney transplant center. There you will meet with the transplant team and review the process of kidney transplant work up. A kidney transplant work up may take several months to complete and will require additional appointments and testing to see if you are a suitable candidate. Can anyone in my family donate a kidney to me? The wait time on the transplant list may be years. You can decrease the wait time if you have a living donor. A kidney donor must volunteer to donate one of their kidneys to you. A donor must also have a work up to be sure that donating a kidney will be safe for them. This will be done at the transplant center. There are several ways to receive a living kidney donation even if your donor is not a match. Your transplant center will review these options including paired exchanges (kidney swap) or donation to the list. They will also help you with the difficult decision to ask for someone to be your kidney donor.