Available 24-hours-a-day, 7 days a week, CHOC Specialists Nephrology physicians provide the comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care necessary to maximize quality of life for children with kidney diseases. These highly trained and skilled pediatric subspecialists work collaboratively with primary care physicians and pediatric urologists, meeting the medical and surgical needs of children with acute and chronic renal disease.
CHOC Specialists Nephrology physicians also serve as medical directors for the CHOC Pediatric Nephrology Program, the only CCS-certified center serving Orange County, and the pediatric dialysis unit at the St. Joseph Hospital Renal Center in Orange. Their services are complemented by the multidisciplinary care provided by other pediatric subspecialists, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, clinical dietitians, child psychologists and social workers at CHOC.
Regionally Recognized for Clinical Excellence: Early intervention and consultation with a CHOC Specialists Nephrology physician allows for timely diagnosis, intervention and treatment. Inpatient and outpatient consultation is available for all renal problems, including:
- Hypertension
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Hematuria
- Acute and chronic renal failure
- Proteinuria
- Cystic kidneys
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Renal anatomical abnormalities
- Kidney stones
- Calcium and phosphorus metabolism
- Nephritis
- Polyuria and polydypsia
- Renal tubular acidosis and tubular disorders
- Pre-renal transplant evaluation
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Post-renal transplant follow-up care
Specialized Pediatric Procedures
Highly experienced, CHOC Specialists Nephrology physicians have the expertise to perform the following specialized procedures:
- Percutaneous renal biopsies using ultrasound guidance, and
- State-of-the art renal replacement therapy for acute renal failure, including peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, and continuous renal replacement therapy using a blood pump for the smallest and most critically ill infants and children
Pediatric Renal Dialysis and At-Home Peritoneal Dialysis
CHOC Specialists Nephrology physicians serve as Medical Directors of the Pediatric Dialysis Unit at St. Joseph Hospital Renal Center, the only pediatric facility of its kind serving greater Orange County. They also provide specialized family training and comprehensive support for at-home peritoneal dialysis.
Family Education and At-Home Care
CHOC Specialists Nephrology physicians combine compassion with education to help parents and patients, as appropriate, understand and manage the condition. By involving the family in treatment planning, many complicated conditions may be managed within the comfort of the patient’s own home – avoiding costly hospitalization. Physicians are available 24-hours-a-day, 7 days a week for phone contact with parents to avoid unecessary trips to the Emergency Room.
Active Participants in the Latest Clinical Research
CHOC Specialists Nephrology physicians serve as principal investigators for several clinical research studies, providing patients with access to the newest treatment options available. Recent studies have included clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of a new anti-hypertensive medication, an active form of Vitamin D for dialysis patients, and a new, long-acting erythropoetin drug for anemia in patients with renal failure