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Hemodialysis
A machine filters your blood outside your body and returns it clean. It is usually done at a dialysis center several times a week, and in some cases it can be done at home.
Kidney Hypertension Clinic · Dialysis Care
Dialysis Care in Gwinnett County & Northeast Georgia
When your kidneys can no longer do their job, dialysis steps in. Our board-certified nephrologists guide you before, during, and after, from planning ahead to overseeing your treatment at area dialysis centers, with eight offices close to home.
What is dialysis?
Your kidneys are your body's filters. Day and night, they remove waste products and extra fluid from your blood. When chronic kidney disease becomes very advanced and kidney function drops very low, dialysis is a treatment that takes over part of that filtering work. It does not cure kidney disease, but it replaces enough kidney function to help you feel better and stay well. And if you are facing it, you are far from alone: more than 800,000 Americans live with kidney failure, and over half a million receive dialysis.
Dialysis is one of the biggest decisions in advanced kidney disease, and it is not the only one. A kidney transplant is another path, and for some patients, especially those who are frail or elderly, a comfort-focused plan without dialysis can also be the right choice. Our job is to explain every option in plain language so the decision fits your health and your life. For a gentle introduction, read our patient guides When do I need dialysis? and What stage of kidney disease am I in?
Hemodialysis vs. peritoneal dialysis, in plain English
Neither type is simply "better." The right choice depends on your health, your home, and how you want to live your life.
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Peritoneal dialysis
Uses the lining of your own abdomen (the peritoneum) as a natural filter. It is typically done at home, often overnight while you sleep, which frees up your days.
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Home dialysis options
Peritoneal dialysis is usually home-based, and home hemodialysis is an option for some patients. We help you decide whether a home option is a safe, practical fit.
A dialysis doctor who already knows your story
A dialysis doctor is a nephrologist, a kidney specialist, who prescribes and oversees your dialysis treatment. At Kidney Hypertension Clinic, the same team that manages your chronic kidney disease continues to care for you if dialysis becomes necessary, so nothing about your history, medications, or goals gets lost in a handoff.
Our nephrologists care for dialysis patients at dialysis centers throughout the area. Dr. Piyush Patel has served as Medical Director of the Snellville Dialysis Center since 2008, where he rounds on patients daily. Between center treatments, you continue to see your nephrologist at our offices, including our main office in Lawrenceville and nearby offices in Duluth and Snellville, where we track your labs, adjust medications, and keep your whole plan in sync.
With eight offices in Lawrenceville, Duluth, Norcross, Snellville, Sugar Hill, Winder, Monroe, and Athens, expert dialysis care is close to home anywhere in Gwinnett County and Northeast Georgia. Find the office nearest you on our locations page.
Preparing for dialysis, step by step
The best dialysis starts are planned, not rushed. Here is how we prepare together.
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Talk early
In the later stages of kidney disease, we begin discussing your options well before dialysis is needed, so you never have to decide in a crisis.
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Choose the type that fits your life
Center-based or home-based, daytime or overnight, we walk through what each option means for your work, family, and routines.
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Plan your access
Hemodialysis usually needs a fistula, a small surgical connection between an artery and a vein in the arm. Kidney experts consider it the gold-standard access, and it typically needs a few months to heal and "mature" before it is ready — planning ahead is what makes the start safe and calm.
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Start when your body says so
The decision to begin is based on how you feel and your labs together, not a single number on a chart. We also discuss kidney-transplant referral when appropriate.
Dialysis questions, answered
Plain-English answers about dialysis and how our nephrologists oversee it.
What does a dialysis doctor do?
A dialysis doctor is a nephrologist, a physician who specializes in kidney care. Your nephrologist decides when dialysis is needed, prescribes the type and schedule of treatment, monitors your labs, manages related issues like blood pressure and fluid balance, and adjusts your care over time. At Kidney Hypertension Clinic, our board-certified nephrologists oversee dialysis patients at area dialysis centers and see them in our eight Georgia offices.
What is the difference between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis?
Hemodialysis filters your blood through a machine, usually at a dialysis center several times a week. Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of your own abdomen as a natural filter and is typically done at home, often overnight while you sleep. Both remove waste products and extra fluid. The best fit depends on your health, your home situation, and your preferences, and your nephrologist helps you choose.
Can dialysis be done at home?
Often, yes. Peritoneal dialysis is usually done at home, and home hemodialysis is an option for some patients. Home dialysis takes training and support, and it is not right for everyone. Our nephrologists help you weigh whether a home option is a safe, practical fit for your life.
When does dialysis usually start?
There is no single lab number that automatically triggers dialysis. Nephrologists look at your symptoms, such as fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, and fluid buildup, together with your lab results. Most people start when kidney function is very low and symptoms appear. This is general information and not medical advice; call (770) 962-1231 to discuss your own situation with a nephrologist.
Is dialysis the only option for kidney failure?
No. A kidney transplant is often the best long-term treatment, and for some people a transplant can even happen before dialysis ever starts. For others, especially older patients living with several serious conditions, a comfort-focused plan without dialysis, called conservative care, can be the right choice. Our nephrologists walk through all of these options with you and your family, in plain language and without pressure.
Sources & further reading: NIDDK — Kidney Disease Statistics for the United States · American Kidney Fund — Kidney Disease Facts. This page is general health information, not medical advice — your nephrologist tailors every decision to you.
Thinking ahead about dialysis? Talk with a nephrologist early.
Early planning means calmer decisions, safer starts, and more choices. New patients are welcome, and Medicare and most major insurance plans are accepted.
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