The kidneys, located just below your ribcage on either side of your spine, play an important role in your health and well-being. As part of your urinary system, these organs filter your blood, removing waste and excess water that’s released from the body as urine. Nephrologists are experts in the care of kidneys, diagnosing and treating conditions from kidney stones to renal (kidney) failure.
Many diseases involving the kidneys are systemic — meaning they affect more than one part of the body. For instance, people who have diabetes may also experience related problems with kidney function. Systemic disorders may require treatment from more than one specialist. MultiCare nephrologists routinely collaborate with a variety of other doctors such as cardiologists and endocrinologists to provide comprehensive care that brings symptom relief and supports your long-term health.
What we treat
At MultiCare, we treat a full spectrum of kidney-related symptoms and diseases, including:
- Acute and chronic kidney disease
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Kidney stones
- Kidney failure
- Elevated protein in the urine (proteinuria)
How we help
Many renal conditions require extensive treatments and lifestyle changes. We carefully evaluate your symptoms to reach a diagnosis and then offer suggestions for next steps in your treatment.
Some of the services we offer include:
- Dialysis. This treatment removes waste from your body when your kidneys can no longer function properly on their own.
- Nutrition services. What you eat and drink can affect the functioning of your kidneys and how well treatments for some kidney diseases work. MultiCare’s registered dietitians provide nutrition counseling and support to help you manage kidney disease and maintain a healthy weight.
- Pretransplant evaluation. If you are preparing for a kidney transplant, MultiCare offers pretransplant evaluations in collaboration with your transplant center.