Introduction
A kidney doctor or specialist is called a nephrologist. They are trained in internal medicine but they also specialize in the treatment of patients with diseases and disorders of the kidney.
To become a kidney doctor, it requires at least two degrees, extensive training, and passing many exams. It usually takes 13-14 years from the start of college to the end of clinical training to become a kidney doctor.
Taking Care of Patients
Kidney doctors typically see patients in the hospital, at dialysis units, and in their offices.
- In the Hospital: Kidney doctors spend a lot of time in the hospital. When our patients on dialysis come into the hospital (which they do quite a lot), we often act as their primary doctor. We are also frequently asked to see patients who have developed an acute kidney problem and this is called a consultation. Admissions and consultations can happen at any time and are they are often unpredictable.
- In the Dialysis Unit:Kidney doctors try and see their patients on dialysis at least once a week. Because patients usually receive dialysis on Monday-Wednesday-Friday or Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday, most kidney doctors set aside time on Mondays and Tuesday to make rounds at the dialysis unit.
- In the Outpatient Office: Since kidney doctors spend most of their time taking care of patients on dialysis or in the hospital, they usually work the least in the outpatient office (typically less than 20% of their time). The use of physician extenders such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants is helping to kidney doctors see more patients in their offices. Unfortuntely, even with this help, there is often still a significant wait to be seen by one.
