For Referring Physicians

Here at BlueGrass Renal Care we understand how important your patient and their care is to you. For your and your patients’ we are on staff at eight hospitals and many dialysis centers in Lexington, Georgetown, Paris, Winchester, Versailles, and srrrounding areas. We can see your patients in any of these facilities or will provide them with a clinic appointment at one of our several locations. Urgent patients can be offered same day appointments and non-urgent patients can be offered appointments within one week. Our goal is to provide each patient with a comprehensive evaluation, patient education, and healthcare plan that is feasible for their needs. We welcome discussing your patients’ care before or after their appointment and strive to provide prompt feedback on your patients’ care.

 

New Patient Referral Form

 

Why Choose our Group for your Patients Care?

Our physicians are board certified in internal medicine, nephrology, critical care, and hypertension.

Our physicians not only attend many CME events, but provide many educational events to peers.

Our physicians participate in research studies and serve on advisory groups for novel treatments in the area of nephrology.

Our physicians are available 24/7 not only for you, but for your patients as well for any questions or concerns.

Our physicians and staff have widespread availability at facilities and office locations.

Our office consists of friendly staff members that are available to help patients.

 

Collaborate with a Nephrologist

The key issues in managing CKD are ensuring that the diagnosis is correct, implementing appropriate therapy, and monitoring the patient. Except for very advanced CKD, most of the therapeutic interventions are similar to optimal diabetes or CVD care. The most important additional interventions are screening for comorbid conditions and providing education to the patient on the progressive nature of kidney disease, the eventual need for renal replacement therapy, and dietary modification. These may be facilitated by referral to a nephrologist but can be effectively accomplished by a primary provider and a registered dietitian who have a long-term relationship with the patient.

 

It may be appropriate to consult with a nephrologist to

• Assist with a diagnostic challenge (e.g., decision to biopsy).

• Assist with a therapeutic challenge (e.g., blood pressure, anemia, mineral and bone disorders hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism, malnutrition).

• Assess rapid decrease of eGFR.

• Treat most primary kidney diseases, (e.g., glomerulonephritis).

• Prepare for renal replacement therapy, especially when eGFR is less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2.

The timing of referral may vary depending on patient status as well provider experience. Regardless of the timing of the referral, providers should

• Obtain preliminary evaluation (e.g., ultrasound, screening serologies).

• Provide the consultant with patient history including serial measures of renal function and urine albumin.

• Inform the patient that he/she is being referred to a nephrologist and the reason for referral.