The Coordination of a Patient's Care between their PCP and Nephrologist
Release Date: 10/25/2022
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Centers of Excellence
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder that can lead to chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and kidney failure. Affecting between 500,000 and 600,000 Americans, treatment targets symptom management with diet, medications, and, if needed, dialysis or a kidney transplant.
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Let’s Talk About Kidneys
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) affects about 600,000 people in the United States, according to the PKD Foundation. It is one of the most common genetic kidney disorders, yet many people don’t even know they have it until later in life. Today, we’ll break down what PKD is, how it’s diagnosed, and how people can live well with it.
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Let’s Talk About Kidneys
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Let’s Talk About Kidneys
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Let’s Talk About Kidneys
In this episode of Let's Talk About Kidneys, Dr. Lauren McDonald, a nephrologist with Dallas Nephrology Associates, discusses the diagnosis, staging, and common tests for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dr. McDonald explains how kidney disease is diagnosed, common symptoms, and some of the key tests, including BUN, creatinine, GFR, hemoglobin A1C, kidney biopsies, and more. She also discusses the importance of being your own healthcare advocate, family histories, how to maintain health records, and the importance of monitoring your diabetes, and...
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Let’s Talk About Kidneys
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Dialysis Patients and Their Diet
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
Let's Talk About Kidneys Dialysis Patients and Their Diet In this episode of Let’s Talk About Kidneys, Dr. Rao, a nephrologist at Dallas Nephrology Associates, discusses the importance of diet for all dialysis patients. She emphasizes the need for dietary modifications even before dialysis, focusing on reducing salt intake, managing potassium and phosphorus levels, and maintaining adequate protein consumption. Introduction Dr. Rao shares her background, mentioning that she joined Dallas Nephrology Associates fifteen years ago and sees patients mostly in Mesquite, Sunnyvale, and...
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New Treatment Therapies In Kidney Care
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
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Let’s Talk About Kidneys
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Kidney Transplant - Getting Started
Let’s Talk About Kidneys
In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Kidneys podcast, Dr. Muhammad Qureshi talks about the benefits of a kidney transplant, why it’s a good choice after kidney failure, and what the process looks like before, during and after. Why should a CKD patient consider a kidney transplant? Dr. Qureshi talks about the fact that there are both mortality and morbidity benefits of a kidney transplant. In other words, not only do you live longer, but you live better. Who qualifies for a kidney transplant? Anyone who has a kidney function less than 20% or someone who has already...
info_outlineHave you ever wondered how a primary care physician and nephrologist work together to help manage kidney disease? In today’s episode, we will talk about the role of each doctor and how they partner together to coordinate a patient’s care and take a look at the relationship between the Primary Care Physician (PCP) and the Nephrologist. Find out how they coordinate their care to help ensure a healthier patient.
How a Patient Can Be Prepared for their First Nephrology Visit
Make sure to write down questions you want to ask your nephrologist. Many times, patients are questioning why they’ve been referred to a kidney doctor, so asking questions about your lab work and why you’re there is a good place to start with your first visit. Your physician can break down your lab results, explain what they mean, and give you a clear understanding of why you’re visiting a nephrologist.
What is a Nephrologist?
A nephrologist is a medical doctor that does not perform surgery, and manages low kidney function for a variety of kidney diseases and issues. Many patients end up seeing a nephrologist when their kidneys aren’t filtering their blood effectively. Whether you have an acute or chronic issue, a kidney doctor can work with the patient to monitor, treat, and help alleviate symptoms of someone experiencing kidney problems.
The job of a kidney doctor is to explain the medical testing, and terms, and to manage and hopefully stop the progression of kidney issues, including kidney disease. In addition, many patients are afraid they need dialysis when visiting a kidney doctor, which is not always the case.
Disclaimer
Dallas Nephrology Associates’ (DNA) podcast series, Let’s Talk About Kidneys, is provided for general information purposes only and does not replace the need to talk with a healthcare professional about your unique situation, care and options. Our goal is to provide you with as much information as possible so you can be as informed as possible. Reference to any specific product, service, entity or organization does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by DNA. READ FULL DISCLAIMER