Dialysis and kidney care
As one of the nation's best facilities for pediatric dialysis and kidney care, Children's offers the skill, experience, and compassion to you and your child. Our family-centered approach focuses on families and doctor making decisions together.
Having a child with acute or chronic kidney disease affects the entire family. Caring for children with kidney disease – and their families – requires special skill, experience dedication and compassion. You need a partner to help you navigate every step of the diagnosis and treatment process.
World class treatment of kidney disease
At Children’s, our exceptional Dialysis & Renal program provides state-of-the-art treatment to children with kidney disease from across the globe. We excel in the care and treatment of common kidney problems as well as complex ones, including chronic kidney failure and polycystic kidney disease – and provide treatments from dialysis all the way to kidney transplantation. We are ranked among the nation’s best in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-25 Best Children’s Hospitals report.
In addition, we offer Wisconsin’s only dialysis unit and medical team specifically trained in pediatric dialysis and focused exclusively on the needs of children.
Coordinated care, personalized treatment
Children's provides coordinated, comprehensive, multi-disciplinary medical care to infants, children, and adolescents with kidney disease and other conditions of the kidney and bladder. We assist children through both short-term treatment for acute kidney problems or when needed, through a lifetime of continuing care for chronic kidney disease – including helping them transition to adult care once they're ready.
Our team of experts includes the following specialists, all dedicated to caring for you and your family:
- Kidney specialists (Board-certified pediatric nephrologists)
- Specially trained nurses
- Nutritionists
- Social workers
- Child life specialists
- Child psychologists
Program highlights
Dialysis program
Children's Dialysis Program offers all three primary types of dialysis, for both acute and chronic kidney disease – performed by a team trained in pediatric dialysis.
Polycystic kidney disease program
Children’s offers one of the country's most dedicated, comprehensive PKD programs, with a multidisciplinary, family-focused approach.
Incontinence and voiding dysfunction program
Children’s treats urinary incontinence through our Incontinence and Voiding Dysfunction clinics (called the Voiding Improvement Program, “VIP”) which is jointly provided by both the urology and the renal team.
Conditions
Children's Wisconsin treats a full range of dialysis & renal conditions that may affect your child, including the following:
- Glomerulonephritis
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Kidney Failure
- Hypertension
- Hematuria
- Proteinuria
- Cystic Kidney Diseases
- Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
- Kidney Stones
- Urinary Incontinence and Bedwetting
- Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
- Metabolic Bone Disease
- Congenital Malformations of the Kidney
- Diabetic Kidney Disease
- Genetic Kidney Diseases
Treatments & tests
Our dedicated, experienced dialysis and renal team is staffed and trained to provide all aspects of your child’s care and treatment, with the following services:
- Dialysis Services
- Renal and Hypertension Clinics
- Metabolic Bone Disease Clinic
- Polycystic Kidney Disease Program
- Prenatal Counseling for Kidney Abnormalities
- Medical Management of Congenital Conditions
- Coordination of Care with Pediatric Urologists, Rheumatologists, and other Subspecialists
- Incontinence and Voiding Dysfunction Clinics (called the Voiding Improvement Program, "VIP")
Research
Children’s is a leader in pediatric dialysis and kidney disease research. Our efforts focus on seeking new knowledge that will lead to solutions and cures for kidney disease that will improve the lives of children who are affected. Among our efforts are:
Clinical research
The Division of Nephrology has a comprehensive research program including basic science, transitional, and clinical research. Our areas of research include:
- Acute Kidney Injury
- Polycystic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Renal Insufficiency
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Hypertension
Research studies
We participate in NIH funded research studies, industry sponsored clinical trials, and investigator initiated research through the Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium.
Our center is proud to offer our patients the opportunity to participate in research studies, and is grateful for the invaluable contributions they have made to the advancement of kidney research. To find out more about the research studies currently available, please contact:
Theresa Kump, Clinical Research Manager
Pediatric Nephrology and Cystic Fibrosis Center Children's Wisconsin
Phone: (414) 337-7144 or (414) 266-6986
FAX: (414) 337-7145
Email: tkump@mcw.edu
Contact us
For established patients with questions about their child’s care, contact the Renal and Hypertension Clinic nurse:
(414) 266-2018
For established Dialysis patients with questions about their child’s care, contact the Dialysis Unit:
(414) 266-2840
Make an appointment
To make an appointment, call our Central Scheduling team or request an appointment online.
(877) 607-5280
Request a dialysis appointment
To request a dialysis appointment, call:
(414) 266-2840
For those needing assistance for coordinating their care with multiple sub-specialists' appointments, or for attending the PKD Clinic for the first time, please contact our Renal Clinic nurse at (414) 266-2018.