Overview
Nephrologists manage acute and chronic kidney disease, hypertension, electrolyte and acid base disorders and coordinate renal replacement therapies. The specialty includes dialysis access management, transplant nephrology and prevention of progression to end stage kidney disease. Multidisciplinary care with dietitians and social work supports complex chronic care.
Clinical Practice
Care includes outpatient management of proteinuria and CKD, inpatient care for acute kidney injury and coordination of dialysis initiation and modality selection. Blood pressure and metabolic control are central to slowing disease progression. Patient education and vascular access planning are routine tasks.
Procedures and Tools
Procedures include kidney biopsy and dialysis catheter placement and management; tools include urine and blood testing, imaging for access evaluation and peritoneal dialysis training. Transplant evaluation and post transplant monitoring require close collaboration with surgery and immunology. Quality metrics include dialysis adequacy and transplant outcomes.
Training and Roles
Nephrologists complete internal medicine residency and nephrology fellowship and may pursue transplant or critical care nephrology subspecialty training. Certification and maintenance of competence include procedural skills and chronic disease management. Nephrology teams include dialysis nurses and technicians and transplant coordinators.