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Dr. Nelson Chow, MD

Accepting New Patients
Specializes in: Adult Nephrology
McGill University Faculty of Medicine (1995)
Professional interests include: dialysis
105 W 8TH AVENUE SUITE 7010
SPOKANE, WA 99204

Dr. Nelson Chow, MD is a nephrologist in SPOKANE, WA specializing in adult nephrology. He graduated from McGill University Faculty of Medicine in 1995 and has 31 years of experience. Dr. Nelson Chow, MD is affiliated with Providence.

View Doctor's Full Profile (509) 474-6560

Office Locations

105 W 8TH AVENUE SUITE 7010
SPOKANE, WA 99204
open_in_new

Some issues Dr. Nelson Chow, 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.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson Chow, MD treated as a nephrologist in SPOKANE, WA during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis 266
doctor visit 208
hemofiltration 71
hospital care 599
inpatient care 599

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson Chow, MD treated as a nephrologist in SPOKANE, WA during 2013 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis 279
doctor visit 180
hemofiltration 74
hospital care 584
inpatient care 584

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD.

Gender
Male 212
Female 185
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 346
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 22
Age
From 65 to 74 136
From 75 to 84 112
85 and over 47
Less than 65 102

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD in 2013

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 61
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 50
Depression 30
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 8
Osteoperosis 9
Atrial Fibrilation 20
Heart Failure 49
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 30
Diabetes 56
Dementia 13
Cancer 15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson Chow, MD treated as a nephrologist in SPOKANE, WA during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis 292
doctor visit 164
hemofiltration 86
hospital care 747
inpatient care 747

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD.

Gender
Male 203
Female 165
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 328
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 14
Age
From 65 to 74 129
From 75 to 84 104
85 and over 33
Less than 65 102

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD in 2014

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 58
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 56
Depression 30
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 10
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 25
Heart Failure 51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 30
Diabetes 58
Dementia 10
Cancer 10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson Chow, MD treated as a nephrologist in SPOKANE, WA during 2015 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis 220
doctor visit 160
hemofiltration 69
hospital care 478
inpatient care 478

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD.

Gender
Male 388
Female 318
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 602
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 40
Age
From 65 to 74 244
From 75 to 84 218
85 and over 48
Less than 65 196

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD in 2015

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 62
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 56
Depression 29
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 18
Osteoperosis 7
Atrial Fibrilation 22
Heart Failure 50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 29
Diabetes 60
Dementia 12
Cancer 9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson Chow, MD treated as a nephrologist in SPOKANE, WA during 2016 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis 303
doctor visit 125
hemofiltration 72
hospital care 513
inpatient care 513

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD.

Gender
Male 206
Female 169
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 310
Black 13
Hispanic 0
Asian 13
Other 0
Native American 17
Age
From 65 to 74 131
From 75 to 84 113
85 and over 28
Less than 65 103

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD in 2016

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 59
Stroke 13
Ischemic Heart Disease 55
Depression 29
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 34
Osteoperosis 8
Atrial Fibrilation 23
Heart Failure 51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 31
Diabetes 61
Dementia 16
Cancer 13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson Chow, MD treated as a nephrologist in SPOKANE, WA during 2017 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis 184
doctor visit 152
hemofiltration 60
hospital care 370
inpatient care 370

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD.

Gender
Male 184
Female 148
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 274
Black 12
Hispanic 0
Asian 13
Other 0
Native American 14
Age
From 65 to 74 121
From 75 to 84 94
85 and over 24
Less than 65 93

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD in 2017

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 57
Stroke 9
Ischemic Heart Disease 51
Depression 29
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 10
Osteoperosis 9
Atrial Fibrilation 18
Heart Failure 48
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 25
Diabetes 57
Dementia 17
Cancer 10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson Chow, MD treated as a nephrologist in SPOKANE, WA during 2018 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis 134
doctor visit 163
hemofiltration 44
hospital care 213
inpatient care 213

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD.

Gender
Male 169
Female 130
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 253
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 11
Age
From 65 to 74 97
From 75 to 84 83
85 and over 26
Less than 65 93

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD in 2018

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 57
Stroke 5
Ischemic Heart Disease 53
Depression 29
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 5
Osteoperosis 7
Atrial Fibrilation 16
Heart Failure 50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 22
Diabetes 58
Dementia 16
Cancer 13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 235

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD.

Gender
Male 139
Female 116
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 216
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 69
From 75 to 84 76
85 and over 28
Less than 65 82

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD in 2019

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 53
Stroke 7
Ischemic Heart Disease 46
Depression 25
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 6
Osteoperosis 6
Atrial Fibrilation 13
Heart Failure 45
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 17
Diabetes 54
Dementia 10
Cancer 7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 144

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD.

Gender
Male 116
Female 94
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 178
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 12
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 59
From 75 to 84 64
85 and over 21
Less than 65 66

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD in 2020

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 51
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 50
Depression 26
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 8
Osteoperosis 8
Atrial Fibrilation 13
Heart Failure 42
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 16
Diabetes 54
Dementia 13
Cancer 7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 98

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD.

Gender
Male 91
Female 84
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 151
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 48
From 75 to 84 52
85 and over 24
Less than 65 51

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD in 2021

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 56
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 52
Depression 24
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 7
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 17
Heart Failure 45
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 13
Diabetes 44
Dementia 9
Cancer 7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 126

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD.

Gender
Male 81
Female 77
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 134
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 48
From 75 to 84 38
85 and over 25
Less than 65 47

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD in 2022

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 68
Stroke 10
Ischemic Heart Disease 44
Depression 22
Chronic Kidney Disease 75
Asthma 8
Osteoperosis 16
Atrial Fibrilation 27
Heart Failure 41
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 16
Diabetes 50
Dementia 8
Cancer 15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Nelson Chow, MD treated as a nephrologist in SPOKANE, WA were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

dialysis 239
doctor visit 159
hemofiltration 68
hospital care 500
inpatient care 500

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD.

Gender
Male 162
Female 135
Ethnicity
Black / African American 2
Asian / Pacific Islander 2
Non-Hispanic White 253
Native American / Alaskan Native 10
Hispanic 0
Other 1
Age
75 to 84 86
85 and over 27
Less than 65 85
65 to 74 98

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson Chow, MD From 2012 - 2022

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

Hypertension 68
High Cholesterol 52
Stroke 6
Ischemic Heart Disease 46
Depression 24
Chronic Kidney Disease 68
Asthma 10
Osteoporosis 8
Heart Failure 42
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 20
Diabetes 50
Atrial Fibrillation 17
Dementia 11
Cancer 9

Education & Training

Dr. Nelson Chow, MD graduated from McGill University Faculty of Medicine in 1995. He completed residency at Queen's University, Ontario Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and has a state license in Washington.

Medical School: McGill University Faculty of Medicine (1995)

Residency: Queen's University, Ontario Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Nephrology

Licensed In: Washington

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Nelson Chow, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Providence

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. Nelson Chow, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Aetna PPO, Humana PPO, CIGNA PPO, Medicare Advantage, Interplan PPO, TriWest, United Healthcare, TRICARE, Medicaid, Regence Blue Shield, Humana, Cigna, United Healthcare Medicaid, OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions (United Behavioral Health), Providence, Humana HMO, First Health, Kaiser Permanente, Aetna Medicare PPO, Asuris Northwest Health PPO, Naphcare, Pacific Source Health PPO, Stevens County SheriffS Office, State of Washington Department of Corrections, Premera, Ferry County Jail, Evernorth PPO, Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service PPO, First Choice PPO, Regence BlueShield of Washington PPO and Interwest Health PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Nelson Chow, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Aetna PPO
Humana PPO
CIGNA PPO
Medicare Advantage
Interplan PPO
TriWest
United Healthcare
TRICARE
Medicaid
Regence Blue Shield
Humana
Cigna
United Healthcare Medicaid
OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions (United Behavioral Health)
Providence
Humana HMO
First Health
Kaiser Permanente
Aetna Medicare PPO
Asuris Northwest Health PPO
Naphcare
Pacific Source Health PPO
Stevens County SheriffS Office
State of Washington Department of Corrections
Premera
Ferry County Jail
Evernorth PPO
Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service PPO
First Choice PPO
Regence BlueShield of Washington PPO
Interwest Health PPO

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Nelson Chow, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 80 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Nelson Chow, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in SPOKANE, WA. 

5
Overall Rating
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Reviews From Around The Web
Overall Rating: 5.0 2026-01-14
Patient verified via Press Ganey
This important check up was as usual, informative and very interested in my condition and absolutely interested in my health and my lab results. Dr Chow makes recommendations and explains his reasons. I feel absolutely comfortable talking with Dr Chow. Dr Chow explains my lab results to my understanding and explains his findings. I like his explanation about my health according to my labs. I wouldn't want another Doctor
Overall Rating: 5.0 2024-07-21
Patient verified via Press Ganey
Dr, Chow has always been kind, respectful and knowledgeable. He seems to be interested in me as a person. I trust him to listen well and respond with appropriate answers. He has the time to answer all my questions and never seems rushed or hurried. He has a good sense of humor that he shares during lighter conversation. I wish I had this kind of rapport with all my doctors.
Overall Rating: 5.0 2024-09-15
Patient verified via Press Ganey
My visit to Dr Chow is always informative and a pleasure to see him. Dr Chow listen to you and gives you answers that can be understood. He cares about his patients and is sincere. I truly recommend him to any kidney care patient. He is excellent!!
Overall Rating: 5.0 2025-07-12
Patient verified via Press Ganey
Dr. Chow is always reassuring and helpful. He treats me with empathy and kindness. He answers my questions clearly, in a manner I can understand. He is well-informed about my condition. I trust him to be honest with me and provide excellent care.
Overall Rating: 5.0 2025-03-08
Patient verified via Press Ganey
Chow is an excellent Dr. And compared to other offices, they try to help, but sometimes things are messy and appointments are difficult to get. Overall, I think as good a care team as is possible under their conditions. They really try!
Overall Rating: 5.0 2024-02-05
Patient verified via Press Ganey
Dr. Chow is positive, thorough and kind. He clearly cares about me. He remembers details about me, showing that his responses are specific to my case.He answers all my questions a way that Is clear to me. I never feel rushed.
Overall Rating: 5.0 2023-11-15
Patient verified via Press Ganey
Great provider. Need more nephrologists like Dr Chow. Hard to get into in a timely manner. He recommended a 3 month follow up and front desk told me I could get an appt in 10 months
Overall Rating: 5.0 2025-12-13
Patient verified via Press Ganey
In my opinion Dr Chow is one of the best Dr around his sense of humor and his knowledge are excellent.he is one caring man and I can't say enough good things about him
Overall Rating: 5.0 2025-03-08
Patient verified via Press Ganey
My family members and I appreciate the good interactions we had with Dr. Chow during these visits. With my kidney disease I see him approximately every 3 to 4 months.
Overall Rating: 5.0 2024-07-20
Patient verified via Press Ganey
Dr. Chow is very thorough and he takes time to explain my kidney disease and its status. He also tells me what factors may affect my kidney care.

To see all 80 reviews for Dr. Nelson Chow, MD, view their full profile.

General Payments

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

Payments by Company
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $3,138 SOLIRIS
$3,138
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. $885 Auryxia
$885
AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS INC $660 Auryxia
$395
$265
Travere Therapeutics, Inc. $404
$404
NxStage Medical, Inc. $148 System One
$148
Other $663 LUPKYNIS
$114 		Rituxan
$105 		NULOJIX
$73 		SAMSCA
$61 		Actemra
$33 		Other
$277
Types of Payments
Food and Beverage $3,154
Consulting Fee $1,500
Travel and Lodging $1,182
Education $61

Biography

Dr. Nelson Chow is a specialist in adult nephrology. His patients gave him an average rating of 5.0 stars (out of 5). Dr. Chow's clinical interests encompass dialysis. He takes Blue California, HealthSmart, and Coventry, in addition to other insurance carriers. He studied medicine at McGill University Faculty of Medicine. His training includes residency programs at Boston Medical Center and a hospital affiliated with Queen's University, Ontario. Dr. Chow is affiliated with Providence. He welcomes new patients at his office inSpokane, WA as reported by Doctor.com.

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