• Why am I being referred to Washington Kidney Care?

  Tests conducted by your primary care provider indicate you may have a problem with your kidney function. Early referral to a nephrology specialist is important.

• What is a nephrologist?

  A nephrologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and management of kidney disease, hypertension, and kidney stones. Some nephrologists also subspecialize in kidney transplant. In addition to completing a residency in internal medicine, nephrologists must complete several years of additional training.

• How is a nephrologist different from a urologist?

  A nephrologist is a medical doctor who focuses on the treatment of diseases of the kidney. A urologist is medical doctor who focuses on the treatment of the diseases of the urinary tract and prostate.

• Does every patient with kidney disease go on dialysis?

  There are more than 37 million Americans with some degree of kidney disease while approximately 700,000 require dialysis on a routine basis. Not all patients diagnosed with kidney disease will require dialysis.

Have additional questions? Please do not hesitate to call Washington Kidney Care at (360) 554-2501, or reach out to us using our online contact form.