Services and Clinics | Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation | UC Davis Children's Hospital

Services and clinics

We provide comprehensive multidisciplinary care to children with a spectrum of kidney conditions, spanning all ages — from the prenatal period to young adulthood. Our services include state-of-the-art acute and chronic dialysis support to all children who need it and we are  experienced and well-established in kidney transplants.

Our diagnostic and therapeutic services include:

  • Peritoneal dialysis 
  • Hemodialysis
  • Continuous dialysis (also called CRRT or CVVH)
  • Renal biopsy
  • Evaluations and treatments for disorders including nephrotic syndrome, high blood pressure, kidney infections, lupus, hydronephrosis and kidney stones
  • Renal transplantation
  • Consultation services, including telehealth consultations
A closer look at services
  • Kidney (renal) disease treatment

    Kidney (renal) disease can interfere with physical and mental developmental processes and can place children at high risk of contracting infections, bone disease and cancer through long-term use of immunosuppressive drugs. Children whose condition worsens to end-stage renal disease — also called ESRD or kidney failure — must be placed on dialysis or undergo a kidney transplant. Physicians may prescribe urine tests, blood tests, X-rays, ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), a kidney biopsy or other means to evaluate and diagnose suspected kidney ailments.

  • Kidney transplantation

    Kidney transplantation offers the best outcomes for children with kidney failure, but complications including slow rejection of transplanted organs may require subsequent transplants. The Pediatric Nephrology Clinic is involved in preparing patients for surgery and in coordinating their post-surgical care and recovery. UC Davis Health ranked as one of the top centers in the nation for kidney transplants in 2021.

  • Kidney dialysis

    Children typically require dialysis for either of two reasons:

    • Chronic kidney conditions
    • Acute kidney failure

    Our team coordinates with the UC Davis Department of Internal Medicine in administering kidney dialysis for chronic conditions. In conjunction with the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at UC Davis Children’s Hospital, we also provide state-of-the-art continuous hemodialysis procedures for critically ill children. We also train patients and their parents to perform acute peritoneal dialysis at home. 

  • Outpatient peritoneal dialysis

    Our unique outpatient peritoneal dialysis program provides pediatric patients and their families with training on home-based peritoneal dialysis, while patients await a kidney transplant. Many patients require dialysis for 10 to 12 hours a day. This program enables them to get that care safely at home from their parents or caregivers, with excellent outcomes and low infection rates. 

Outpatient peritoneal dialysis program

UC Davis Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in the region to offer outpatient dialysis for patients under 10 years of age or 44 pounds. Some of the program’s highlights and successes include:

  • Zero exit site infections
  • Decreased peritonitis rates
  • High patient satisfaction levels
  • Virtual visits (telehealth appointments) for patients within the 33-county area that the hospital serves
  • Timely referrals to transplant in collaboration with the UC Davis Transplant Center
  • Home dialysis training in English and Spanish from two dedicated dialysis nurses
  • Home visits and 24/7 access to an on-call nephrologist for urgent questions and needs
  • Access to a patient support group where families on dialysis can connect with each other
  • Dialysis machine, all supplies and fluids are delivered to the home
Kidney stone clinics
  • Pediatric kidney stone program

    Urinary stones in children are uncommon and require specialized care. The workup and treatment of pediatric stone disease is different in that children tend to have identifiable chemical imbalances, have a higher recurrence rate, are more susceptible to radiation from imaging studies and the smaller size of organs makes surgical treatment more difficult.

    The mission of the UC Davis Children’s Hospital pediatric kidney stone program is to provide comprehensive care to children and families with heightened attention to these issues. We are a multidisciplinary team of urologic surgeons, pediatric nephrologists, nurses, registered dietitians and a social worker. We offer the most up-to-date minimally invasive treatments and prevention programs.

    We offer two clinics:

    Pediatric Kidney Stone Clinic (PKIDS)

    We identify pediatric patients with kidney stones, evaluate them for other urologic abnormalities that are associated with kidney stones, and determine if the kidney stones require surgical management or can be observed.

    Pediatric patients who are first-time kidney stone formers, or are new UC Davis Health, should be seen at this clinic.

    Multidisciplinary Pediatric Stone Clinic (MPS)

    We provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for pediatric patients with kidney stone disease. This clinic brings together the knowledge and extensive experience of pediatric nephrologists, endourologists, pediatric dietitians and a social worker to help manage pediatric kidney stone patients who are at high risk for kidney stone recurrence. 

    The emphasis of this clinic is on imaging surveillance, and dietary and medical prevention for recurrent kidney stone disease.

Referrals and appointments

Kidney care clinics

Advanced kidney care is available at the UC Davis Children’s Hospital Pediatric Nephrology Clinic for infants, children and teens. We also have a pediatric kidney stone program offering care for new and recurrent kidney stones.

  • Pediatric Nephrology Clinic
  • Pediatric Kidney Stone Clinic
  • Multidisciplinary Pediatric Stone Clinic

Consultation services

Our nephrologists are widely sought for consultation services by family practitioners who have patients with kidney disease. Our team also provides consultation services to hospitals throughout Northern California, Southern Oregon and parts of Nevada.

Pediatric Nephrology Clinic

2521 Stockton Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95817

The pediatric nephrology clinic is located in the Glassrock Building on the UC Davis Health campus.

View map and directions

To schedule an appointment

800-770-6831

916-734-3112

For physician referrals or consults

800-823-4543

To see one of our specialists, a referral is required from your child’s primary care physician.