A Personal Decision

Seeing a nephrologist early on when you have a kidney disorder or disease can keep you feeling well and keep your kidneys healthy and functioning for as long as possible. Your nephrologist is there to guide you through many decisions about protecting your health and treating your kidney problems. How do you find the best nephrologist who is right for you? Here are some important factors to keep in mind.

1. Get Referrals

Start with the list of potential nephrologists that your primary care doctor gave you. You can also ask family, friends, and other healthcare providers for recommendations. Take the time to research the doctors’ credentials and experience on Healthgrades.com. As you narrow down your list, call each nephrologist’s office and ask for a consult appointment to meet and interview the doctor.

2. Research the Nephrologist’s Credentials

Board certification is one of the most important factors to consider when you are choosing a nephrologist. It tells you that the doctor has the necessary training, skills and experience to provide healthcare in nephrology. Also confirm that the nephrologist has no history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. You can find the nephrologist’s medical school, training hospital, certifications, and malpractice and disciplinary history on Healthgrades.com and state websites.

3. Consider the Nephrologist’s Experience

When it comes to your health, experience matters. The more experience a nephrologist has with a condition or procedure, the better your results are likely to be. Ask how many patients with your specific condition the nephrologist has treated. If you know you need a specific procedure, ask how many of the procedures the doctor has performed and find out about complication rates—complications the doctor has encountered as well as your own risk of complications.

4. Consider Gender

It’s important to feel comfortable with your nephrologist’s gender because you will need to openly discuss personal information. When it comes to kidney disease, your own gender is also an important consideration. Nephrologists are becoming more skilled in caring for women and men differently. Ask the nephrologist about his or her recent training and experience specifically related to your condition and your gender.

5. Research Hospital Quality

Your doctor’s hospital is your hospital. For this reason, consider the quality of care at the hospital and dialysis center where the nephrologist can provide care. Hospital quality matters to you because patients at top-rated hospitals have fewer complications and better survival rates. Additionally, consider whether the hospital’s location is important to you. Frequent tests, treatments, or follow-up visits may mean you need a convenient location. You want the location to encourage, rather than discourage timely care.

6. Evaluate Communication Style

Choose a nephrologist with whom you are comfortable talking and who supports your information needs. When you first meet the nephrologist, ask a question and notice how he or she responds. Does he or she welcome your questions and answer them in ways that you can understand? Afterwards, did you feel rushed or engaged? Find a nephrologist who shows an interest in getting to know you, who will consider your treatment preferences, and who will respect your decision-making process.

7. Read Patient Reviews

Reading what other people have to say about a doctor can provide insight into how a doctor practices medicine, as well as how his or her medical practice is operated. Patient reviews typically reflect people's experience with scheduling appointments, wait times, office environment, and office staff friendliness. You can learn how well patients trust the doctor, how much time he or she spends with their patients, and how well he or she answers questions.

8. Know What Your Insurance Covers

Your insurance coverage is a practical matter. To receive the most insurance benefits and pay the least out-of-pocket for your care, you may need to choose a nephrologist who participates in your plan. You should still consider credentials, experience, outcomes, and hospital quality as you select a nephrologist from your plan.

8 Tips for Choosing a Nephrologist

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