June 9, 2000

New centralized renal practice makes treatment convenient

The MGH Renal Unit, which historically has had offices in various locations on the MGH campus and at CNY, announces the opening of a centralized practice on Gray 10, MGH Renal Associates. The new renal practice, which opened June 1, brings together the physicians of the MGH Renal Unit into one location that provides services to the spectrum of patients with renal ailments — ranging from management of renal transplants to urinary tract infections, renal stones, high blood pressure and hereditary renal diseases.

"The changes reflect a desire to be more patient focused," says Michael Gillespie, MPH, administrative director for the Department of Medicine. "By having all of the renal services in one location — near the Dialysis Unit — we are making things easier for patients and giving doctors the ability to be more efficient."

M. Amin Arnaout, MD, chief of the MGH Renal Unit, adds that the centralization of renal care delivery at the MGH will help provide optimal continuity of care to patients with kidney disease. "By locating all of the clinical renal services at a single state-of-the-art facility, we are providing patients with easier access to a group of physicians with extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of renal disease," says Arnaout. "Patients also will be able to have blood work and urinalyses done at the practice site, without having to travel to several different locations around the MGH campus. We are hoping to get ultrasound equipment to facilitate rapid diagnosis and disease management as well."

Doctors joining the new centralized unit will include Arnaout, Hasan Bazari, MD; David Steele, MD; Norman Lichtenstein, MD; Gary Curhan, MD; Pete Coggins, MD; Garner Haupert, MD; Ravi Thadani, MD; Nina Tolkoff-Rubin, MD; and Winfred Williams, MD. For more information, call MGH Renal Associates at 6-5050.

Members of MGH Renal Associates