Nephrology & Critical Care

The kidneys perform several vital functions in your body, including removing waste and excess fluid from your blood, maintaining the body’s electrolyte balance, and releasing hormones with functions like controlling blood pressure.

A nephrologist is a medical doctor with advanced training that specializes in conditions and diseases related to the kidneys. They treat such diseases as kidney infections, chronic kidney disease, and kidney failure. A nephrologist is also very knowledgeable about how kidney disease and kidney dysfunction affects other systems in the body. You may also be referred to a nephrologist if the kidney dysfunction is related to, or is caused by your high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, certain autoimmune diseases, or medications you may be taking.

When you visit a nephrologist, some tests may be performed to determine the health of your kidneys and access how well they are functioning. Once these tests are done, your doctor may determine in severe cases that you have end-stage kidney failure and need a procedure called dialysis.

What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a treatment that performs the function of the kidneys when they are no longer doing their job of removing excess fluid, waste, and other impurities from your body. Dialysis filters and purifies the blood using a machine, which serves to keep fluids and electrolytes in balance. However, dialysis is not a cure for kidney dysfunction and other treatments are needed to address the cause of kidney failure.

Treatment and prevention of acute and chronic kidney disease

• Management of all causes of kidney disease including polycystic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, and others
• Management of coexisting conditions of kidney disease including protein in the urine, blood in the urine, electrolyte disorders, anemia and others
• Management of acute kidney failure/injury and end-stage kidney disease. Educating and developing a plan for transplant, home dialysis or in center dialysis

Hypertension

• Diagnosis and management of high blood pressures

Kidney stones

• Dietary advice and medical management for the prevention of recurrent kidney stones

Please contact our office today for more information and to schedule an appointment with Dr. Reed or Dr. Pavey.