Kidney & Urinary Health – Nephrology Outreach
Protect Your Kidney Health
Understand changes in kidney function, manage ongoing kidney disease, and connect with specialty care close to home.
- Kidney Function Monitoring
- Nephrology Outreach Visits
- Ongoing Care and Follow-Up
Kidney Problems Can Develop Without Clear Warning Signs
Your kidneys remove waste and extra fluid from your blood. When they are not working well, you may not notice symptoms right away.
Changes may first appear during routine blood or urine testing. Other problems, such as kidney stones, may cause sudden and severe pain.
Getting the right care can help you understand what is happening and protect your health moving forward.
Conditions We Help Monitor and Manage
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease, also called CKD, means your kidneys have been damaged or have slowly lost some of their ability to filter your blood.
Early kidney disease may not cause clear symptoms. As kidney function declines, you may notice:
- Swelling in the feet, ankles, hands, or face
- Changes in how often you urinate
- Foamy or bloody urine
- Feeling tired or weak
- Trouble concentrating
- Nausea or loss of appetite
- Itchy skin
- Shortness of breath
- High blood pressure that is difficult to manage
Diabetes and high blood pressure are common risk factors for kidney disease. Regular monitoring can help your care team find changes and manage related health concerns.
Kidney Stones and Renal Function Decline
Kidney stones are hard deposits that form inside the kidneys. Small stones may pass on their own. Larger stones may block the urinary tract or require urgent treatment.
Possible symptoms include:
- Sharp pain in the back or side
- Pain that moves toward the lower abdomen or groin
- Blood in the urine
- Pain while urinating
- Needing to urinate often
- Nausea or vomiting
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Renal function decline means the kidneys are becoming less able to filter waste and fluid from the blood. This change may happen slowly because of chronic disease or more quickly because of illness, infection, dehydration, medicine, or a urinary blockage.
Your provider can evaluate your symptoms, order appropriate testing, and connect you with kidney or urinary specialists when needed.
Kidney Care Available Through CDP Health
Your care may include:
- Family Medicine visits
- Blood and urine testing
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Diabetes management
- Medication review
- Diagnostic imaging
- Nutrition guidance
- Chronic Care Management
- Nephrology Outreach Visits
- Coordination with outside specialists
- Follow-up after kidney stones or hospitalization
The services you need will depend on your kidney function, symptoms, test results, and health history.
Meet With a Kidney Specialist in Sisseton
CDP Health’s Outreach Visits program brings nephrology specialty care to the Sisseton Clinic on select dates.
Tina Melanson, MD
Dr. Melanson provides Nephrology Outreach Visits through Prairie Lakes Health Care System.
To schedule an Outreach Visit, call Prairie Lakes Health Care System at 605-882-5455 and ask to be seen at the Sisseton Clinic.
Visit dates may change. Confirm the current schedule when making your appointment. View current Nephrology Outreach information.
Tina Melanson
MD
Take a More Active Role in Your Kidney Health
Connected care can help you:
- Understand your kidney function
- Monitor changes over time
- Manage conditions that affect your kidneys
- Review medicines that may need adjustment
- Lower the risk of further kidney damage
- Find specialty care when needed
- Better understand your follow-up plan
Take the Next Step
1. Schedule an Appointment
Start with a CDP Health provider or call the nephrology provider’s office directly to request an Outreach Visit.
2. Review Your Health
Talk about your symptoms, health history, medicines, and recent blood or urine test results.
3. Continue Your Care Plan
Complete recommended testing, monitoring, treatment, and specialty follow-up.
Clear Support for a Complex Part of Your Health
Kidney health can be difficult to understand because early problems may not cause noticeable symptoms. You deserve clear explanations and a plan that helps you know what comes next.
CDP Health provides primary care, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging, Nutrition Services, Chronic Care Management, and visiting nephrology care. The team can monitor ongoing concerns and coordinate with outside specialists when more advanced treatment is needed.
View the CDP Health Outreach Visits listing and Provider Directory.
Get Immediate Help for Severe Symptoms
Call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department for:
- Severe or unbearable pain
- Sudden inability to urinate
- Confusion or loss of consciousness
- Severe trouble breathing
- Chest pain or pressure
- A seizure
- Severe weakness
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction
Seek prompt medical care for kidney stone symptoms accompanied by fever, chills, repeated vomiting, or an inability to keep fluids down. These symptoms may signal an infection, blockage, or dehydration.
More Support for Kidney and Urinary Health
Kidney and Urinary Health Questions
What do the kidneys do?
Your kidneys filter waste and extra fluid from your blood. They also help balance minerals, support blood pressure control, and make hormones your body needs.
Can chronic kidney disease develop without symptoms?
Early kidney disease may cause few or no noticeable symptoms. Blood and urine tests can help identify changes in kidney function.
Who may be at greater risk for kidney disease?
People with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, a family history of kidney disease, or a history of kidney problems may have a greater risk.
What tests are used to check kidney function?
Providers often use blood tests, urine tests, blood pressure readings, and sometimes imaging to evaluate kidney health. Your provider will determine which tests are appropriate.
Is nephrology care available at CDP Health?
Visiting nephrology appointments are available at the Sisseton Clinic on select dates through CDP Health’s Outreach Visits program.
How do I schedule a Nephrology Outreach Visit?
Call Prairie Lakes Health Care System at 605-882-5455 and ask to schedule an appointment at the Sisseton Clinic.
Can CDP Health treat kidney stones?
CDP Health can evaluate kidney stone symptoms and provide diagnostic imaging or emergency care when appropriate. Some stones may require treatment from a urologist or another outside specialist.
When does a kidney stone need urgent care?
Individuals experiencing severe pain, fever, chills, repeated vomiting, trouble urinating, or an inability to keep fluids down need prompt medical attention. Larger stones or stones blocking the urinary tract may require urgent treatment.
Can kidney disease affect which medicines I take?
Reduced kidney function can change how the body processes certain medicines. Review prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicine, vitamins, and supplements with your care team before making changes.
Get Clear Answers About Your Kidney Health
Connect with a care team that can help you understand your kidney function and take the right next step.