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Make an appointment
To schedule an appointment with one of our Board Certified Nephrologists, please call us at 317-924-8425. Our phones are answered Monday-Friday from 8:30 am through 4:30 pm. If you have a medical emergency at any time, call 911.
Before your first appointment at Indiana Kidney Specialists, we will mail you a copy of our New Patient Packet. Please complete all of the information in the packet and bring it with you to your appointment.
When completing your medication list, be sure to include any over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements and vitamins along with their dosages. It is important for your nephrologist to know everything you are taking – even if it is not a prescription medicine.
Patient Serices
To schedule an appointment with one of our Board Certified Nephrologists, please call us at 317-924-8425.
IKS doctors and their nurse practitioners treat a wide range of conditions related to the kidneys. Many are listed here. The links below will direct you to third-party websites for more information. IKS provides references for patient information only and is not responsible for the content on these off-site websites.
If you send us your own practice referral form, please be sure to include all patient demographic information listed on our version.
• Chronic kidney disease CKD
• High blood pressure hypertension & hypertensive disorder
• Anemia of chronic kidney disease anemia
• Diabetic kidney disease diabetic Nephropathy
• Protein or blood in the urine proteinuria & hematuria
• Acute kidney injury acute renal failure
• Kidney stones nephrolithiasis
• Congenital renal disorders polycystic kidney disease, solitary kidney
• Fluid and electrolyte disorders hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia
• Edema swelling, Nephrotic syndrome
• Renal bone disease renal osteodystrophy
• Kidney inflammation interstitial nephritis, glomerulonephritis
• End-stage renal disease ESRD
• Dialysis hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
• Vascular access procedures dialysis access procedures
• Kidney transplantation transplant referral & management
To learn more about your health, go to Understanding Kidney Disease.
Refer a patient
We appreciate your referrals and the trust you place in us to care for your patients.
We have 11 locations throughout Central Indiana. To refer a patient, simply call us at 317-924-8425. Our phones are answered Monday-Friday from 8:30 am through 4:30 pm.
If your physicians have an after-hours emergency, you can call the same number (317-924-8425) and you will be directed to the nephrologist on call.
Patient Referral Form
We have included our Indiana Kidney Specialists new patient referral form on this website. Please complete this form, and fax it to our office at 317-924-8424 (Attn: Cassie) for patient appointments at any of our locations. We will schedule and notify your patients with all pertinent appointment information.
If you send us your own practice referral form, please be sure to include all patient demographic information listed on our version.
If you have any questions, or your physician needs a patient worked in emergently, please call our office at 317-924-8425.
To exchange a Continuity of Care Document (CCD) we have a direct access email indianakidneyspecialists@directaccess.net.
Questions Our Patients Frequently Ask
What can I do to prevent chronic kidney disease?
Maintaining your health is the best way to prevent chronic kidney disease (CKD). It’s also very important to visit your family doctor every year for a physical exam – because the early stages of kidney disease are often symptom-free. Your yearly physical should include a family history, tests such as routine blood work, a urine screen and blood pressure check. High blood pressure and diabetes are two major risk factors for kidney disease. The local NKF of Indiana has free kidney disease screenings.What can I eat?
Maintaining a kidney friendly diet is an important part of slowing kidney disease. Read our news article on “Nutrition and Kidney Disease”. It provides guidelines on proper diet and a link to recipes posted on the National Kidney Foundation’s website.I don’t use salt, so why do I need to read the nutrition labels?
Many foods that you buy at the grocery are packed full of sodium (salt) – especially canned items. It’s important to track your overall sodium consumption and keep it at a balanced level that your kidney specialist recommends.I’m still urinating, so why do I have kidney disease?
Your kidneys can still produce urine as you progress through the various stages of kidney disease. By the time you stop producing urine, it is too late to try and slow the progression of the disease. Kidney disease is determined mainly by checking 3 items: measuring the amount of a chemical in your body called creatinine (via a blood test), checking your blood pressure and checking for protein in your urine (via a urine test). People with high blood pressure, diabetes and those with family history are at higher risk for kidney disease.How do I determine the amount of potassium in the foods I eat?
Check the food labels on items you buy at the grocery store – they will typically list the potassium content. And, ask your kidney specialist or a dietitian what foods have appropriate levels of potassium that are right for you. When you have kidney disease, knowing the amount you consume on a daily basis is very important.What is dialysis?
Dialysis cleans your blood using a machine that functions like an artificial kidney. It removes waste products and fluids while keeping other important chemicals flowing properly through your blood. Dialysis also helps to control blood pressure. You can read about the two types of dialysis on our website.How much can I drink?
This varies from person to person. Everyone has a different medical history, different medications, different weight and different goals. You must check with your kidney specialist to determine what is safe for you.When will I know that I am ready to start dialysis?
This is determined by several factors. Your kidney specialist will be monitoring your lab results (GFR, BUN, Creatinine, Proteinuria, Potassium, etc.) as well as blood pressure, swelling and weight gain. It is also very important for the doctor to know how you are feeling – i.e., are you more tired, nauseous or experiencing shortness of breath or chest pain? These are signs and symptoms of worsening and failing kidneys. It is very important that you follow your physician’s instructions for lab work and follow-up visits to monitor this closely.What happens if I miss a dialysis treatment?
Your body will be unable to get rid of the toxins, so you may swell up with extra fluids and experience shortness of breath and/or chest pain. It is extremely important to go to every dialysis treatment so you do not end up making a trip to the emergency room.Will I do dialysis for the rest of my life?
Most people will have to do dialysis for the rest of their lives, unless they have the chance to undergo a kidney transplant. Dialysis is the only other treatment when the kidneys have failed to remove the excess fluids and toxins from the body.What happens if I do not want to do dialysis?
If you choose to not do dialysis, you may be able to get a kidney donated from a family member (or friend) or be put on a donor list – in order to undergo a transplant. The other option is conservative care and pain medications to alleviate discomfort.Will I still be able to drive?
Many people can drive to and from dialysis after a few weeks. Your kidney specialist will want to ensure your blood pressure is under control after your initial dialysis treatments and determine how you feel in general.Will I have a shunt in my arm?
If you choose to do hemodialysis, a surgeon will create an “entrance point” into your blood vessels in order to do your treatment. This surgery is typically performed on your non-dominant arm. A fistula or graft are the two options for the arm surgery. You can read about the two types of dialysis on our website.I don’t feel bad, so why do I need to have surgery for dialysis now? Will it hurt?
Kidney disease is a stressful condition because it can cause toxins and fluids to build up in your body causing severe high blood pressure, stroke or heart attacks. Therefore, it is very important to attend all your check-ups with both your family doctor and kidney specialist. They may suggest that you get the arm surgery to prepare you safely for dialysis in the future. This is an important step in your kidney health. It is best to have this procedure in advance so that when the time comes, you are ready for dialysis and you won’t need to have a catheter placed to start dialysis. A catheter is at higher risk for infections and is not the preferred method of starting dialysis. So, it is best to plan ahead and have a fistula placed.If you’re going to have hemodialysis, a surgeon will place an “entrance” or “access” into your blood vessels to accommodate the dialyzer – prior to starting dialysis. If you’re going to have peritoneal dialysis, a surgeon will place tube inside the abdomen to clean the blood. Both procedures are performed under general anesthesia, so you will not feel pain during the procedure. You can read about the two types of dialysis on our website.
Following are links to websites that may be helpful to patients.
The National Kidney Foundation:
https://www.kidney.org/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease:
http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/American Kidney Fund:
http://www.kidneyfund.org/American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology:
http://www.asdin.org/American Society of Transplantation:
https://www.myast.org/American Association of Kidney Patients:
https://www.aakp.org/Kidney School:
http://www.kidneyschool.org/American Diabetes Association:
http://www.diabetes.orgAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics:
http://www.eatright.orgUrology of Indiana:
http://www.urologyin.com/American Society of Nephrology:
https://www.asn-online.org/Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:
http://www.cms.gov/
What Is Kidney Disease?
The kidneys are critically important organs that perform multiple functions. They are located in your back area. In simple terms, the kidneys work to “clean house” inside your body. Your blood has waste products and excess fluids that you don’t need. The kidneys continuously flush these elements through your bloodstream and out of your body – which also helps to keep your blood pressure under control. The kidneys also keep your fluids and minerals in balance by producing important enzymes, vitamins and proteins your body needs every day.When the kidneys don’t function properly, they can become damaged – and eventually lead to kidney disease – which is very dangerous. Kidney damage can be caused by traumatic injury, a medical problem or use of certain medications. |
If you’re going to have hemodialysis, a surgeon will place an “entrance” or “access” into your blood vessels to accommodate the dialyzer – prior to starting dialysis. If you’re going to have peritoneal dialysis, a surgeon will place tube inside the abdomen to clean the blood. Both procedures are performed under general anesthesia, so you will not feel pain during the procedure. You can read about the two types of dialysis on our website.
Risk Factors
Kidney disease can affect anyone at any age. There are, however, several risk factors that contribute to kidney disease. Some are controllable, while others are not. Some factors that you cannot control are; Age (being 65 and older), having a family history of kidney disease and your ethnic background. If you are of African-American, Native American, Asian or Hispanic ancestry, you have a higher incidence rate of kidney disease.The two most common risk factors for kidney disease are having high blood pressure and/or diabetes (type 1 or 2). Over time both of these conditions can damage your kidneys – often without showing symptoms.
Others risk factors that you have some control of include:
• Smoking• Heart disease
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
Checking your blood pressure regularly, scheduling yearly visits with your primary care physician and having routine blood work and urine tests are important in preventing and detecting kidney disease. This becomes essential if you have one of the noted risk factors. Kidney disease is reversible – so prevention is the best tool.
Treatment and Dialysis
Kidney Disease Treatment
The early stages of kidney disease can sometimes be slowed with the use of medications and diet. As the disease progresses to later stages and the kidneys become less functional, there are two treatment options available: dialysis and kidney transplant.Kidney Dialysis
Dialysis uses a machine that functions like an artificial kidney to clean your blood. It removes waste products and extra fluids, keeps important chemicals flowing through your blood and controls blood pressure. There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.Dialysis can extend your life, makes you feel better and improves your health. The number of treatments you need will depend upon how well your kidneys are functioning – which varies from patient to patient. Dialysis can be done at any of our dialysis locations throughout the Central Indiana area, at a hospital or in your home. The location will depend on your own personal situation and the type of dialysis you have.
Hemodialysis
A hemodialysis machine uses a filter called a dialyzer to clean your blood. Before undergoing dialysis, a surgeon will create an “entrance” (or access point) into your blood vessels to accommodate the dialyzer. This is typically performed with minor surgery, usually somewhere on your arm. |
One option is a fistula – which joins an artery to a vein in order to create a larger blood vessel. If you are not a candidate for the fistula, a graft can be performed, which joins an artery to a vein using a small synthetic tube. This tube is placed under your skin.
Both the fistula and skin graft procedures require time to heal before you undergo dialysis treatments. Once you begin dialysis, a needle will be placed into both the vein and artery access points mentioned above at the start of each treatment. The needles will each be connected to a plastic tube. One tube will carry your blood to the dialyzer to be cleaned, and the other tube will send the cleaned blood back to you.
Peritoneal Dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis utilizes a tube that is surgically placed inside the abdomen (stomach area) to clean the blood. During this type of dialysis, a fluid called dialysate is injected through a tube and into the abdomen. This fluid collects the blood’s waste products and is drained out after several hours. Typically, several cycles of this process are needed.Catheters
For patients who require short-term dialysis, a soft tube called a catheter can be placed inside a large vein in the neck or chest. Catheters can be connected directly to the dialysis tubes mentioned previously, and needles are not needed. Catheters can also be used as a permanent entrance or access point when a fistula or graft cannot be placed, but are not intended to be a long-term solution.Kidney Transplant
Kidney transplantation information is covered on the “Kidney Transplant” section of our website.
Kidney Transplantation
A kidney transplant is surgery that provides a new, fully-functional kidney to a patient who has end-stage kidney disease. It is one of the most common transplant surgeries performed in the U.S. A kidney can be donated from a healthy family member, friend, spouse, non-relative or a deceased donor. The goal of a kidney transplant is to provide a patient with a fully functional kidney, and thus, a better quality of life.The surgery is performed under general anesthesia by a surgeon who specializes in transplant procedures and typically takes about three to five hours. The hospital stay is usually around one week.
Patients are evaluated over the course of several weeks or months by a transplant team to determine if they are proper candidates for this surgery. Tests such as blood work, cancer screening and heart work-ups are often performed during this process.
Proper candidates are placed on a regional waiting list for a kidney. Wait time is determined by the patient’s blood type, the length of time they have been on dialysis, other medical conditions that are present and the likelihood for transplant success.
The Role of Indiana Kidney Specialists
Our board certified nephrologists (doctors that specialize in kidney disease) are closely involved with the care of their patients who undergo a kidney transplant. They monitor them before the surgery and manage their care ongoing following the procedure (for the rest of their life) to ensure the best possible outcome.Our physicians work together with the transplant team and function as the patient’s “tour director” throughout the entire transplant process. This includes providing comprehensive clinical care, management of anti-rejection medications, regular check-ups and patient education.
Kidneys Facts
• It’s important to keep your kidneys healthy because they perform critical functions that keep your entire body in balance.• Be sure to visit your physician every year for a check-up that includes a blood pressure check, urine test and general bloodwork.
• Your kidneys function to remove the waste products in your blood. They also produce hormones your body needs, regulate important chemicals and keep your blood pressure under control.
• High blood pressure and diabetes are the leading causes of kidney disease. Keeping these conditions controlled is important for the overall health of your kidneys – and your body.
• Chronic Kidney Disease occurs when your kidneys are damaged over time and become less functional.
• Kidney disease is detected by your physician through blood and urine tests as well as monitoring your blood pressure.
• Signs that signal the need to see a physician include high blood pressure, blood in your urine, swelling in the hands and feet and frequent urination/urinary tract infections.
• When detected early, kidney disease can often be treated with medications that control conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.