Your kidneys keep your body “in balance” by helping you eliminate fluids and waste, make red blood cells and control bone health. However, your kidneys may not be able to function properly due to genetic issues, high blood pressure, kidney trauma or a chronic disease such as diabetes.

If you find yourself in these situations, Franklin can help.

At Franklin we offer medical and interventional treatments for various stages of kidney disease. Our nephrologists (physicians who specialize in kidney disease) will work closely with you and your primary care physician to provide you with ways to better protect your kidneys from failure. A program of lifestyle behavior change may include:

• teaching you ways to control blood sugar through diet
• medication
• watching your numbers with your doctor (health care provider). Medical options may also be recommended.

Dialysis

When kidneys fail, dialysis may be recommended. We offer the following dialysis options on an inpatient basis:

• Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT).This treatment mimics the functions of the kidneys in regulating water, electrolytes and wastes by continuing 24 hours a day, for several days for patients experiencing acute renal failure. It is performed as an inpatient procedure within our Intensive Care Unit.
• Hemodialysis. During hemodialysis, your blood supply is linked to a special machine that cleans your blood (much like your kidneys would do if they were still working). To connect the machine with your blood stream, you will undergo a surgical procedure by a nephrologist, or surgeon who specializes in diseases of the kidneys. This procedure is performed at Elmbrook Memorial as an inpatient procedure. For patients requiring hemodialysis on an outpatient basis, we will help connect you with a dialysis center convenient to you.
• Peritoneal dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis is a treatment for patients with severe kidney disease that uses the patient’s peritoneum (a membrane within the abdominal cavity) to flush, dissolve and exchange fluids from the blood. This type of dialysis is administered through a catheter in your abdomen.

Our team approach features clinical care providers who have specialized training in working with kidney disease. We collaborate with your primary care physician to ensure your care is comprehensive and managed efficiently.

For more information

• Find a nephrologist (a physician that specializes in kidneys) who treats patients at Franklin .