New Joint Pediatric Urology-Nephrology Clinic Treats Complex Diseases at a Single Location

Clinic Offers Combined Services for Children and Young Adults with Complex Conditions of the Urinary Tract and Kidneys

Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center has launched a combined Pediatric Urology and Nephrology Clinic for children from birth through early adulthood (age 21) who have been diagnosed with complex conditions of the urinary tract and kidneys.

The clinic is staffed by a multidisciplinary team including pediatric urologists, who treat children with bladder control issues, such as hernia, bedwetting, incontinence, kidney stones and urinary obstructions, and pediatric nephrologists, who treat conditions such as chronic kidney disease, hematuria and acute renal failure. Pediatric urologists and nephrologists are also part of the multidisciplinary pediatric kidney transplant team at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital.

The Pediatric Urology and Nephrology Clinic at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital will treat patients collaboratively with pediatric urology and nephrology specialists offering treatments and services, including modifications to diet, medication to suppress urinary tract infections, medications to support kidney function, and corrective surgery (which can often be minimally invasive). In the most severe cases, there can be complete loss of kidney function resulting in the need for dialysis to replace kidney function as a bridge to kidney transplant.

The clinic is headed by Richard N. Schlussel, M.D., Director of Pediatric Urology for the Hackensack Meridian Health, and Kenneth V. Lieberman, M.D., Division Chief of Pediatric Nephrology at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center.

The Sanzari clinic joins the combined Pediatric Urology and Nephrology Clinic at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. A team of three urologists and one nephrologist provide care in the hospital’s kidney stone clinic and offer procedures including extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy/nephrolithotripsy.

“Our new Pediatric Nephrology and Urology Clinic at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive and convenient care for children and young adults with conditions of the urinary tract and kidney, and their families,” said Judy Aschner, M.D., physician-in-chief, Pediatrics, Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health. “Our goal is to deliver efficient, expert care for our young patients who are affected by complex conditions, as well as access to clinical trials and the latest treatments.”

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