Key Takeaways
- Using virtual care, providers are able to monitor dialysis patients who are in Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic and keep them close to their communities.
- Through this program, dialysis patients no longer need to be transferred to larger hospitals further from home for nephrology care.
- The tele-nephrology program has reduced patient transfers, lessened demand for in-patient beds and dialysis resources, and eased hospital capacity concerns.
Our team of experienced nephrology providers is dedicated to improving the lives and well-being of people with all types of kidney (renal) disorders. By bringing together clinical expertise, modern technology, and exceptional care, we ensure each patient receives the best possible outcome.
Rural hospitals continue to use innovative programs and therapies to encourage support patients and provide vital specialty health care.
Through a new virtual care program, nephrology providers can now remotely support patients at Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic while partnering closely with local nursing staff and hospital teams.
The Tele-Nephrology program at Clifton Springs provides remote dialysis coverage for dialysis patients who are hospitalized when it is not available on-site.
Finding innovative solutions to practical challenges
As funding and staffing challenges continue for a growing number of rural hospitals, one issue that needs addressing is ensuring patients who require specialty care can remain at their local hospital instead of being transferred to larger hospitals that are further away.
For hospitalized dialysis patients at Clifton Springs, a lack of onsite nephrology coverage resulted in them being transferred to Rochester General Hospital or Unity Hospital for continued care.
The Tele-Nephrology program is designed to address these specific challenges, allowing patients continue to receive care locally when it is unavailable. Teams in nephrology, dialysis, virtual care, information services & technology, and the hospital coordinate care to provide seamless virtual consultations.
After completing specialized training and setting up workflows for current and future team members, providers and dialysis staff were able to launch the program at Clifton Springs in July 2026.
Seeing success for rural dialysis patients
The impact of the Tele-Nephrology program at Clifton Springs Hospital has been significant for both patients and the health system.
For patients, the ability to remain in their community close to their families and support systems while receiving specialized nephrology care has a strong effect. For providers and the health system, there are fewer patient transfers, reduced capacity pressures, and a lower overall demand on inpatient beds, dialysis resources, and staffing.
"As we implemented this telehealth model, we were able to keep patients at Clifton Springs Hospital rather than transferring them elsewhere for care," said Shubha Shastry, MD, PhD, MBA, Service Line Division Head for Nephrology. "This not only improved the patient experience but also helped reduce strain on hospital capacity and dialysis resources across the system."
By leveraging virtual care to connect patients with specialty expertise through the new Tele-Nephrology program, Rochester Regional Health is able to strengthen care delivery across the continuum and improve access to care closer to home.
Comprehensive Care for Dialysis Patients
Our team of experienced nephrology providers is dedicated to improving the lives and well-being of people with all types of kidney (renal) disorders. By bringing together clinical expertise, modern technology, and exceptional care, we ensure each patient receives the best possible outcome.
