Kidney Care

The kidneys are the master chemists of the body, maintaining the environment (the blood) of the cells of our body in a way that permits optimum function. Kidney problems cause abnormalities in the concentration of minerals and accumulation of waste products in the blood, which cause cellular dysfunction (illness). The kidneys also maintain the correct amount of fluid in the body, make a hormone that stimulates red cell production, and produce the most active form of vitamin D. Consequently, when the kidneys are not functioning well, fluid retention, anemia, vitamin D deficiency and bone deterioration occur.

Nephrology Associates of Yakima provides diagnostic evaluation and ongoing care of patients with problems related to the kidneys, including chronic kidney disease (CKD Stages 2-5), diabetic kidney disease, complicated hypertension, congenital renal disease, inherited renal disease, such as polycystic kidney disease, kidney stone prevention, pre-and post kidney and pancreas transplantation, bone disease associated with kidney dysfunction, vascular disease associated with the kidney dysfunction, anemia associated with kidney dysfunction, excess fluid accumulation, and problems with electrolyte and mineral metabolism. We also supervise the provision of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, inpatient and outpatient, to individuals whose kidneys have deteriorated to the point that their lives would be in jeopardy without renal replacement therapy, a problem commonly known as end stage renal disease or Chronic Kidney Disease, Stage 5 and 6.

Nutrition plays a big part in the rate of progression of kidney disease. Diet can be altered to provide better adaption to kidney disease and is important in the prevention of kidney stones.

Anemia is a common occurrence in individuals with kidney disease. A skilled and experienced nurse manager provides treatment of anemia in our Chronic Kidney Disease/Anemia Clinic, using Vitamin B12, and/or supplements of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs), such as Aranesp, under supervision of the medical director.

Many of the people we serve require life-sustaining dialysis. We are affiliated with five DaVita-owned clinics that provide dialysis or train people to do dialysis in their homes. These are the Yakima Dialysis Clinic, the Union Gap Dialysis Clinic, the Mt. Adams Kidney Center in Sunnyside, WA, the Ellensburg Dialysis Clinic, and the Zillah Dialysis Clinic. One of our physicians serves as the Medical Director of one or more of these clinics to ensure that high quality medical care is provided to our patients.

We strive to keep our patients healthy and stable enough to avoid hospitalization. However, if hospitalization is required we care for our patients at the Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Care Center and the Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. We are also available for telephone consultation with other physicians 24 hours a day.

Dialysis related surgical procedures will be performed at one of the two Yakima hospitals, mostly at outpatient level. We work closely with three highly trained experienced surgeons, who give us dialysis access outcomes among the highest in the nation.

Finally, we refer all medically suitable patients to seek kidney transplantation. Because of proximity, most patients choose one of the transplant programs in Seattle: the Virginia Mason Clinic, the University of Washington, or the Swedish Medical Center. An occasional person will choose the Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. We generally provide the post transplant follow-up care in our office based clinics, referring back to the transplanting facility if problems develop that require involvement of the entire transplant team.