(Left to right): Dr. Shalini Sundar, Donella D’Souza, CMA, Dr. Luis Alvarez, Rodelia Sena, RN, Manager, and Eddie Paz, Director, are part of the Fremont Nephrology team.  

With renal disease rising among adults in the United States, Sutter Health is increasing access to advanced kidney care services in California, where an estimated 4.4 million people are living with chronic kidney disease.

Sutter’s Palo Alto Medical Foundation is expanding advanced kidney care in the San Francisco Bay Area to bring these critical services closer to home. Their Fremont Nephrology team, located in Alameda County, began serving patients in September at its clinic at 39233 Liberty Street, and is providing a range of care services focused on kidney health and disease management.

“Sutter Health’s commitment to increasing access to high-quality health care means creating opportunities to offer specialized advanced care in underserved areas,” says Edgardo (Eddie) Paz, Director, Heart and Vascular, Nephrology of Sutter’s Greater Silicon Valley Division. “Fremont Nephrology will create more opportunities for Alameda County residents to get personalized care — including early screening — for diseases of the kidneys and those that affect kidney function.”

The practice offers nephrology services including:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) management
• Hypertension and electrolyte disorder treatment
• Acute kidney injury care
• Dialysis coordination and support for in-center and home dialysis.

The team provides evaluation and follow-up for kidney transplant patients, and management of glomerular diseases and proteinuria, which affect the kidneys abilities to filter waste. The clinic also offers education and lifestyle counseling for kidney health, and works closely with local dialysis centers in Fremont, Union City and Hayward to coordinate care.

Committed to caring for patients in and out of the office, Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group nephrologists Dr. Luis Alvarez, Dr. Graham Rodwell, Dr. Jianling Tao and Dr. Shalini Sundar use a hybrid approach offering on-site and telehealth services that target adults with high blood pressure or diabetes, dialysis and transplant patients, individuals with acute kidney issues or abnormal labs, and at-risk populations. According to the American Kidney Fund, people living with diabetes and high blood pressure and those who are African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native American, or Asian American have a higher chance for developing kidney disease.

With a culturally sensitive, community-based approach and bilingual staff, Fremont Nephrology is uniquely positioned to serve the city’s diverse population, says Rodelia Sena, nursing clinic manager.

Sutter has bigger plans for this integrated and mindful approach to health care, Sena says.

“Beyond Fremont, this model serves as a blueprint for expanding integrated nephrology care throughout Northern California.”

Learn more about Sutter Health’s nephrology and kidney disease services here.