Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our acute dialysis services, partnerships, and how we work with hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.
Services
What dialysis services does KidneyCare provide?
We offer comprehensive acute dialysis services including hemodialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), peritoneal dialysis, and therapeutic apheresis (plasmapheresis). We provide these services at hospitals, ICUs, and skilled nursing facilities throughout Southern California.
What is CRRT and when is it used?
CRRT (Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy) is a gentler, slower form of dialysis performed 24/7 for critically ill ICU patients who can't tolerate the rapid fluid removal of standard hemodialysis. It's commonly used for patients on vasopressors, with sepsis, or post-cardiac surgery.
Do you provide peritoneal dialysis?
Yes, we support both acute peritoneal dialysis in hospital settings and chronic PD for patients in our SNF programs. We also offer home PD training and support through our home dialysis program.
What is therapeutic apheresis/plasmapheresis?
Plasmapheresis is a procedure that removes plasma from the blood and replaces it with donor plasma or albumin. We use it for conditions like TTP (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura), Guillain-Barré syndrome, myasthenia gravis, and certain autoimmune kidney diseases.
Can you help with dialysis access issues?
Yes, we evaluate patients for appropriate dialysis access and coordinate with vascular surgery or interventional radiology for catheter placement, fistula creation, or access revision when needed.
Coverage & Response
What areas do you serve?
We serve Southern California including Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Ventura County. Our headquarters is in Van Nuys with teams positioned throughout the region for rapid response.
How quickly can you respond to emergencies?
For established partner facilities with pre-positioned equipment, we can typically have dialysis running within 2 hours. For new facilities, response time depends on location but we prioritize urgent cases and can often deploy equipment rapidly.
Are you available 24/7?
Yes, we provide true 24/7/365 coverage. Our board-certified nephrologists and dialysis nurses are available around the clock, including nights, weekends, and holidays. There are no 'off hours' for acute kidney injury.
Do you cover both hospitals and SNFs?
Yes, we partner with acute care hospitals (including ICUs and emergency departments) and skilled nursing facilities. Our SNF program brings on-site dialysis directly to residents, eliminating the need for transport to outpatient centers.
Partnerships
How do we establish a partnership with KidneyCare?
Contact us for an initial consultation. We'll discuss your facility's needs, patient volume, and current challenges. We then develop a customized program, handle credentialing and contracting, and can typically be operational within a few weeks.
What equipment does our facility need to provide?
None. We provide all dialysis equipment including machines, CRRT devices, water treatment systems, and consumable supplies. We handle all maintenance and servicing. Your facility provides patient space and water/electrical connections.
Do you provide the nursing staff?
Yes, we provide trained dialysis nurses who are experienced in acute care settings. For CRRT, our nurses have specialized ICU-level training. You don't need to hire or train dialysis-specific staff.
How does physician coverage work?
Our board-certified nephrologists provide 24/7 attending coverage. They round on patients, respond to consults, and are available by phone at all times. This is attending-level coverage, not just fellows or nurse practitioners.
Can you work with our existing nephrologists?
Absolutely. We offer flexible partnership models. We can provide full acute coverage while your nephrologists focus on outpatient care, or we can provide after-hours, weekend, or CRRT-only coverage as needed.
Billing & Insurance
How does billing work?
We bill insurers directly for our professional and technical services. We accept Medicare, Medi-Cal, and most commercial insurance plans. Your facility doesn't need to handle dialysis billing—we manage the entire revenue cycle.
What insurances do you accept?
We accept Medicare, Medi-Cal, and most major commercial insurance plans including Anthem, Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, and many others. For patients with coverage questions, our billing team can verify benefits before treatment.
Are there any costs to the partner facility?
Our partnership model minimizes facility costs. We provide all equipment and staffing. Specifics depend on the partnership structure, which we discuss during consultation. Many facilities find our program is cost-neutral or even improves their margins by reducing transfers.
What about uninsured patients?
We work with all patients regardless of insurance status. For uninsured patients, we can assist with emergency Medi-Cal applications and explore other coverage options. Acute dialysis is life-saving treatment and we don't turn away patients based on ability to pay.
Clinical Questions
What are the indications for acute dialysis?
Common indications include severe hyperkalemia (K+ >6.5), refractory volume overload/pulmonary edema, severe metabolic acidosis (pH <7.2), uremic symptoms (encephalopathy, pericarditis, bleeding), and certain toxic ingestions. We also provide dialysis for ESRD patients hospitalized for other conditions.
How do you handle patients with isolation requirements?
We accommodate patients with isolation needs including HCV, MDRO, and COVID-positive status. We have dedicated equipment and protocols for isolation patients. Our SNF partners also accept isolation patients for long-term dialysis care.
What clinical protocols do you follow?
We follow evidence-based guidelines including KDIGO for AKI staging and management, KDOQI for dialysis adequacy, and EXTRIP for extracorporeal treatment in poisoning. Our protocols are reviewed regularly and updated based on current evidence.
How do you coordinate with the primary team?
We function as consultants and communicate directly with the primary team (hospitalists, intensivists, or attending physicians). We provide clear written recommendations, answer questions by phone, and participate in multidisciplinary rounds when needed.
What happens when a patient is ready for discharge?
We coordinate discharge planning from the beginning. For patients needing ongoing dialysis, we arrange outpatient appointments or, if going to SNF, placement at one of our partner facilities with on-site dialysis. We provide detailed summaries for continuity of care.
Getting Started
How do I request a consultation for a patient?
Call our 24/7 hotline at (818) 530-4501. You'll reach a clinical coordinator who can connect you with a nephrologist. For non-urgent consultations, you can also submit a request through our website contact form.
What information do you need for a new consult?
Basic demographics, reason for consult, relevant labs (creatinine, potassium, BUN, urinalysis), current dialysis access (if any), and any isolation requirements. We can start with minimal information and gather details as we go.
How long does it take to set up a partnership?
For hospitals, credentialing and contracting typically takes 2-4 weeks. For SNFs establishing new dialysis programs, we can often be operational within 4-6 weeks including equipment setup and staff training.
Can we do a trial period before committing?
Yes, we understand that partnership is a significant decision. We can start with a pilot program or handle specific cases before formalizing a full partnership. This lets both sides evaluate fit before long-term commitment.
Who should I contact to discuss partnership opportunities?
Contact us at (818) 530-4501 or through our website. Ask for our partnership development team. We'll schedule a consultation to understand your needs and explain how we can help.
Still Have Questions?
Can't find what you're looking for? Our team is happy to help. Reach out and we'll get back to you quickly.
Ready to Partner With KidneyCare?
Whether you're a hospital, SNF, or healthcare system, we're here to provide the acute dialysis support your patients need.