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Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD

Accepting New Patients

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Specializes in: Adult Nephrology
University of California, Davis, School of Medicine
Professional interests include: chronic kidney disease (CKD), polycystic kidney disease, kidney failure, and more.
11969 Heritage Oak Place
Auburn, CA 95603

Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD is a nephrologist in Auburn, CA specializing in adult nephrology. He graduated from University of California, Davis, School of Medicine. Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD is affiliated with Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, Dignity Health, Sutter Health and Hill Physicians.

View Doctor's Full Profile (530) 878-5950

Office Locations

Sutter Health

11969 Heritage Oak Place
Auburn, CA 95603
(530) 878-5950
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Hill Physicians

Inc 151 N Sunrise Avenue Suite 1202
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 789-1505
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Some issues Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD can help you with:

Dialysis

Dialysis is a procedure that replicates renal (kidney) function by filtering patients' blood. When kidneys do not work properly, waste can accumulate in the blood and unbalanced chemicals can impair the body's critical functions. In order to stay healthy, a person without proper kidney function must receive dialysis. There are two forms of dialysis treatment: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Both forms of dialysis are recurring treatments that in many cases last throughout the lifetime of the affected patient. Patients who briefly lose renal function may slowly reduce the frequency of dialysis sessions until their kidneys recover. However, most patients who start on dialysis remain on dialysis for the rest of their lives or until they receive a kidney transplant.

A number of conditions can worsen renal function and lead to end-stage or acute kidney failure. When kidneys fail (i.e. nearly 90 percent of their function is lost), dialysis is typically prescribed. Conditions that cause chronic kidney failure (eventually requiring dialysis) include:

  • Type 1 and 2 Diabetes
  • Pyelonephritis, recurring kidney infection
  • Glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the kidney's filtering parts
  • Polycystic kidney disease
  • Interstitial nephritis, inflammation of the kidney's tubules
  • High blood pressure
  • Vesicoureteral reflux, improper bladder emptying

For hemodialysis (the more common form of dialysis), a patient will visit a hospital or clinic and be connected to a dialysis machine by a needle attached to a tube that draws blood from the arm. The drawn blood is transferred to the dialysis machine, where it is filtered and separated until clean. Waste products from the blood pass into a fluid called dialysate, which is pumped out of the machine into a waste receptacle. The machine also measures and helps ensure the blood has the appropriate level of fluid, electrolytes, and pH. A tube delivers the cleaned blood back into the patient's body. A dialysis session like this will typically last for three to four hours, with a patient undergoing dialysis around three times per week.

A second method of dialysis is known as peritoneal dialysis. Unlike hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis can be performed at home by oneself after an initial surgery. To start, a physician (generally a surgeon) will make a small incision in the lower abdomen and insert and surgically attach a catheter (thin tube). At home, the patient connects a pump to the abdomen catheter, delivering dialysate (dialysis fluid) from a bag hanging on a wheeled stand. This fluid enters the peritoneal cavity (greater abdomen area containing the stomach, liver, and intestines) and collects waste through osmosis, where waste in the blood moves across a membrane and into the dialysate. This process continues for several hours until the fluid concentration is equal between the blood and dialysate, at which point the fluid can be drained. The fluid can then be passed through a machine called a cycler, which removes waste and allows for the dialysate to be reused. This process is repeated about four times per day. Dialysis patients must limit the amount of fluid they consume prior to receiving dialysis and should also avoid eating salty foods. The cycler cannot filter more than a certain amount of waste products from the blood.

Kidneys are important organs, and dialysis treatments are vital for those with renal dysfunction. For many, dialysis is not so much a medical procedure but a part of their normal life.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard deposits that form in the kidneys, made up of minerals that are normally present in urine. They can vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a nickel, occasionally even larger. Sometimes they lodge in the kidney, and sometimes they break free and make their way out through the urinary tract, which can be extremely painful.

Kidney stones can be smooth or jagged and are yellow to brown in color. They are mostly comprised of the minerals calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus. Examining the stones to see what they are made of can show what caused the stone to be formed in the first place. For example, a stone made of mostly calcium, which is the most common type, can happen any time the urine becomes too concentrated due to dehydration or a blockage in the kidney. A uric acid stone forms when acid levels in the urine get too high, usually due to excessive consumption of animal protein such as meat and fish. A struvite stone is a sign of certain infections, and a cystine stone can be due to a genetic disorder that raises the risk of kidney stones.

The most common symptom of kidney stones is pain, either in the back or lower abdomen, or severe pain when urinating. There may also be blood in the urine. Treatment for kidney stones depends on how large the stone is. Very small stones can pass out of the body on their own, and they do not require treatment other than drinking adequate water and taking pain killers. Larger stones need to be broken apart and removed. The main treatment options are:

  • Shock wave lithotripsy, which uses sound wave vibrations to break apart the stone
  • Percutaneous nephrolithotomy, or the use of a very tiny tool (like a wire inserted through the back) to break apart and remove the stone
  • Ureteroscopy, a thin tube inserted through the urethra and bladder to the stone, where tiny tools can grasp the stone and remove

People who have had one kidney stone are at risk of developing another. To reduce this risk, patients are given instructions specific to the type of stone they developed. Generally the instructions will include drinking more water to dilute the urine, but it may also involve lowering sodium intake or eating less meat.

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 25%

By Affordability:

hospital care
inpatient care
inpatient hospital care

In 2012, Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD had a list price for hospital care, inpatient care, and inpatient hospital care (for patient admitted to hospital) that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 75% of providers in related specialties within California. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated as a nephrologist in Auburn, CA during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis 28
doctor visit 576
hospital care 537
inpatient care 537

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated as a nephrologist in Auburn, CA during 2013 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 554
hospital care 419
inpatient care 419

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD.

Gender
Male 240
Female 211
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 349
Black 24
Hispanic 44
Asian 22
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 145
From 75 to 84 135
85 and over 77
Less than 65 94

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD in 2013

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 69
Stroke 9
Ischemic Heart Disease 59
Depression 19
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 6
Osteoperosis 7
Atrial Fibrilation 25
Heart Failure 53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 24
Diabetes 57
Dementia 12
Cancer 11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated as a nephrologist in Auburn, CA during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care and lab tests.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 545
hospital care 326
inpatient care 326
lab tests 13

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD.

Gender
Male 230
Female 206
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 334
Black 18
Hispanic 44
Asian 24
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 146
From 75 to 84 139
85 and over 70
Less than 65 81

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD in 2014

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 70
Stroke 7
Ischemic Heart Disease 54
Depression 25
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 5
Osteoperosis 6
Atrial Fibrilation 23
Heart Failure 49
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 19
Diabetes 58
Dementia 12
Cancer 13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated as a nephrologist in Auburn, CA during 2015 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 563
hospital care 452
inpatient care 452

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD.

Gender
Male 462
Female 424
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 668
Black 52
Hispanic 90
Asian 46
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 286
From 75 to 84 294
85 and over 140
Less than 65 166

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD in 2015

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 69
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 53
Depression 25
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 16
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 24
Heart Failure 53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 19
Diabetes 59
Dementia 9
Cancer 10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated as a nephrologist in Auburn, CA during 2016 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 643
hospital care 479
inpatient care 479

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD.

Gender
Male 272
Female 228
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 380
Black 30
Hispanic 47
Asian 26
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 149
From 75 to 84 179
85 and over 86
Less than 65 86

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD in 2016

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 71
Stroke 10
Ischemic Heart Disease 59
Depression 22
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 20
Osteoperosis 8
Atrial Fibrilation 24
Heart Failure 51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 21
Diabetes 62
Dementia 12
Cancer 12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated as a nephrologist in Auburn, CA during 2017 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 631
hospital care 328
inpatient care 328

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD.

Gender
Male 283
Female 212
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 369
Black 24
Hispanic 54
Asian 28
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 145
From 75 to 84 180
85 and over 86
Less than 65 84

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD in 2017

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 71
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 54
Depression 22
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 9
Osteoperosis 8
Atrial Fibrilation 21
Heart Failure 45
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 22
Diabetes 56
Dementia 13
Cancer 14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated as a nephrologist in Auburn, CA during 2018 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 601
hospital care 485
inpatient care 485

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD.

Gender
Male 279
Female 247
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 378
Black 31
Hispanic 63
Asian 32
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 142
From 75 to 84 199
85 and over 100
Less than 65 85

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD in 2018

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 74
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 57
Depression 27
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 10
Osteoperosis 8
Atrial Fibrilation 24
Heart Failure 46
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 21
Diabetes 56
Dementia 16
Cancer 16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated as a nephrologist in Auburn, CA during 2019 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 655
hospital care 435
inpatient care 435

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD.

Gender
Male 278
Female 240
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 385
Black 24
Hispanic 53
Asian 34
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 146
From 75 to 84 198
85 and over 91
Less than 65 83

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD in 2019

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 71
Stroke 7
Ischemic Heart Disease 54
Depression 24
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 8
Osteoperosis 6
Atrial Fibrilation 25
Heart Failure 47
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 19
Diabetes 56
Dementia 15
Cancer 13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated as a nephrologist in Auburn, CA during 2020 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis 13
doctor visit 396
hospital care 419
inpatient care 419

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD.

Gender
Male 249
Female 215
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 343
Black 25
Hispanic 48
Asian 27
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 148
From 75 to 84 149
85 and over 89
Less than 65 78

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD in 2020

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 71
Stroke 7
Ischemic Heart Disease 55
Depression 25
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 8
Osteoperosis 7
Atrial Fibrilation 24
Heart Failure 48
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 19
Diabetes 52
Dementia 15
Cancer 11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated as a nephrologist in Auburn, CA during 2021 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 495
hospital care 532
inpatient care 532

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD.

Gender
Male 293
Female 216
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 377
Black 28
Hispanic 49
Asian 34
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 153
From 75 to 84 184
85 and over 99
Less than 65 73

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD in 2021

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 72
Stroke 7
Ischemic Heart Disease 56
Depression 26
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 8
Osteoperosis 7
Atrial Fibrilation 22
Heart Failure 47
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 21
Diabetes 55
Dementia 16
Cancer 12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated as a nephrologist in Auburn, CA during 2022 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 475
hospital care 436
inpatient care 436

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD.

Gender
Male 249
Female 190
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 334
Black 27
Hispanic 32
Asian 24
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 121
From 75 to 84 176
85 and over 92
Less than 65 50

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD in 2022

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 13
Ischemic Heart Disease 42
Depression 25
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 10
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 33
Heart Failure 38
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 24
Diabetes 50
Dementia 10
Cancer 20

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated as a nephrologist in Auburn, CA were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and lab tests.

dialysis 20
doctor visit 557
hospital care 440
inpatient care 440
lab tests 13

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD.

Gender
Female 217
Male 257
Ethnicity
Black / African American 25
Asian / Pacific Islander 27
Non-Hispanic White 356
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Hispanic 47
Other 0
Age
85 and over 84
75 to 84 166
Less than 65 80
65 to 74 143

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD treated were chronic kidney disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Hypertension 68
High Cholesterol 64
Stroke 7
Ischemic Heart Disease 49
Depression 21
Chronic Kidney Disease 68
Asthma 9
Osteoporosis 7
Heart Failure 43
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 19
Diabetes 51
Atrial Fibrillation 22
Dementia 11
Cancer 12

Education & Training

Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD graduated from University of California, Davis, School of Medicine. He completed residency at University of California, Davis Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the Internal Medicine (Sub: Nephrology) and has a state license in California.

Medical School: University of California, Davis, School of Medicine

Residency: University of California, Davis Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: Internal Medicine (Sub: Nephrology)

Licensed In: California

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital
Dignity Health
Sutter Health
Hill Physicians

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: WellCare, Blue Shield of California, Medicare Advantage, SCAN Health Plan, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross of California, Anthem, Health Net Medicare Advantage HMO, Health Net, UnitedHealthcare, Central Health Plan, Western Health Advantage (WHA), Accepted Aetna Plans: Health Fund HMO (aka HMO/HRA): HMO: HMO Deductible Plans: Quality Point of Service (QPOS), Hill Physicians Care Solutions, Accepted Sutter Health Plan Plans: Individual and Family Plan HMO: Large and Small Group HMO and Accepted SCAN Plans: Sutter Senior Advantage, a SCAN Medicare Plan (HMO).

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

WellCare
Blue Shield of California
Medicare Advantage
SCAN Health Plan
United Healthcare
Aetna
Cigna
Anthem Blue Cross of California
Anthem
Health Net Medicare Advantage HMO
Health Net
UnitedHealthcare
Central Health Plan
Western Health Advantage (WHA)
Accepted Aetna Plans: Health Fund HMO (aka HMO/HRA): HMO: HMO Deductible Plans: Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
Hill Physicians Care Solutions
Accepted Sutter Health Plan Plans: Individual and Family Plan HMO: Large and Small Group HMO
Accepted SCAN Plans: Sutter Senior Advantage, a SCAN Medicare Plan (HMO)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Brian Daniel Thornton, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
Mentor Worldwide LLC $264 MENTOR MemoryGel Resterilizable Gel Sizer
$264
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. $237 JYNARQUE
$167 		SAMSCA
$70
NxStage Medical, Inc. $57 System One
$57
Relypsa, Inc. $43 VELTASSA
$43
Baxter Healthcare $43 Renal - PD
$43
Other $248 IBSRELA
$35 		BENLYSTA
$30 		Auryxia
$29 		AlloDerm
$21 		FARXIGA
$20 		Other
$113
Types of Payments
Food and Beverage $822
Education $70

Biography

Dr. Brian Thornton practices adult nephrology in Roseville, CA and Auburn, CA. Dr. Thornton attended medical school at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine. His medical residency was performed at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Davis. Clinical interests for Dr. Thornton include polycystic kidney disease, pain, and kidney stones. He appears to be in-network for Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, Blue California, and more. His professional affiliations include Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Sutter Roseville Medical Center, and Hill Physicians. According to Hill Physicians, new patients are welcome to contact Dr. Thornton's office in Roseville, CA.

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