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Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD

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Specializes in: Adult Nephrology

Tufts University School of Medicine

Professional interests include: hypertension (high blood pressure), kidney problems, dialysis, and more.

250 Centerville Road Building E
Warwick, RI 02886

(401) 490-3838

Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD is a nephrologist in Warwick, RI specializing in adult nephrology. He graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD is affiliated with Brown Physicians Incorporated and Kent.

Office Locations

Kent

250 Centerville Road Building E
Warwick, RI 02886

(401) 490-3838

(401) 490-3827

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Some issues Dr. Nelson J. Chu, 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.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD treated as a nephrologist in Warwick, RI during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

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

dialysis	204
doctor visit	450
hospital care	549
inpatient care	549

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD treated as a nephrologist in Warwick, RI during 2013 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

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

dialysis	185
doctor visit	486
hospital care	458
inpatient care	458

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	141
Female	161

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	279
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	95
From 75 to 84	84
85 and over	65
Less than 65	58

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

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	73
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	38
Diabetes	52
Dementia	19
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD treated as a nephrologist in Warwick, RI during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

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

dialysis	191
doctor visit	493
hospital care	446
inpatient care	446

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	138
Female	171

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	284
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	95
From 75 to 84	88
85 and over	70
Less than 65	56

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

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	72
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	68
Depression	34
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	54
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	35
Diabetes	50
Dementia	17
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD treated as a nephrologist in Warwick, RI during 2015 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

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

dialysis	164
doctor visit	504
hospital care	381
inpatient care	381

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	294
Female	362

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	600
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	210
From 75 to 84	192
85 and over	124
Less than 65	130

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

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	66
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	21
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	19
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	30
Diabetes	55
Dementia	15
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD treated as a nephrologist in Warwick, RI during 2016 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

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

dialysis	127
doctor visit	508
hospital care	315
inpatient care	315

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	132
Female	178

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	290
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	106
From 75 to 84	91
85 and over	59
Less than 65	54

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

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	64
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	33
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	47
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	31
Diabetes	55
Dementia	15
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD treated as a nephrologist in Warwick, RI during 2017 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

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

dialysis	144
doctor visit	459
hospital care	181
inpatient care	181

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	123
Female	175

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	283
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	109
From 75 to 84	86
85 and over	63
Less than 65	40

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

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	66
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	45
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	29
Diabetes	55
Dementia	11
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD treated as a nephrologist in Warwick, RI during 2018 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

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

dialysis	123
doctor visit	422
hospital care	216
inpatient care	216

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	150
Female	164

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	294
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	112
From 75 to 84	97
85 and over	58
Less than 65	47

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

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	65
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	47
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	51
Dementia	12
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD treated as a nephrologist in Warwick, RI during 2019 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

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

dialysis	83
doctor visit	394
hospital care	314
inpatient care	314

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	123
Female	171

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	273
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	87
From 75 to 84	105
85 and over	54
Less than 65	48

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

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	64
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	52
Dementia	14
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD treated as a nephrologist in Warwick, RI during 2020 were hospital care and inpatient care.

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

doctor visit	215
hospital care	212
inpatient care	212

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	104
Female	133

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	222
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	82
From 75 to 84	81
85 and over	40
Less than 65	34

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

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	61
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	48
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	56
Dementia	13
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD treated as a nephrologist in Warwick, RI during 2021 were hospital care and inpatient care.

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

doctor visit	245
hospital care	141
inpatient care	141

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	100
Female	124

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	206
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	75
From 75 to 84	87
85 and over	34
Less than 65	28

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

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	62
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	42
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	51
Dementia	12
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD treated as a nephrologist in Warwick, RI during 2022 were hospital care and inpatient care.

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

doctor visit	259
hospital care	83
inpatient care	83

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	75
Female	110

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	166
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	50
From 75 to 84	77
85 and over	35
Less than 65	23

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

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	18
Ischemic Heart Disease	54
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	28
Heart Failure	38
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	55
Dementia	8
Cancer	19

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

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

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD treated as a nephrologist in Warwick, RI were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

dialysis	152
doctor visit	403
hospital care	299
inpatient care	299

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	125
Female	159

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	263
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	89
85 and over	54
Less than 65	47
65 to 74	92

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

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

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	58
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	68
Asthma	14
Osteoporosis	7
Heart Failure	43
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	48
Atrial Fibrillation	18
Dementia	12
Cancer	11

Education & Training

Dr. Nelson J. Chu, MD graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine. He completed residency at St. Louis University (SLU) Affiliated Hospitals. He has a state license in Rhode Island.

Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine

Residency: St. Louis University (SLU) Affiliated Hospitals

Licensed In: Rhode Island

Affiliations & Hospitals

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

Brown Physicians Incorporated

Kent

Ratings & Reviews

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General Payments

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

**Payments by Company**
Questcor Pharmaceuticals	$162 ACTHAR $162
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.	$146 SAMSCA $146
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP	$106 FARXIGA $106
Fresenius USA Marketing, Inc.	$84 Velphoro $52	KORSUVA $19	Cyclers $13
Amgen Inc.	$48 Sensipar $48
Other	$163 RENVELA $45	Auryxia $24	Colcrys $22	Kazano $13	$59

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$693
Education	$16

Biography

Dr. Nelson Chu, who practices in Warwick, RI, is a medical specialist in adult nephrology. Before completing his residency at a hospital affiliated with St. Louis University (SLU), Dr. Chu attended medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine. His areas of clinical interest consist of kidney stones, hypertension (high blood pressure), and glomerular diseases. He is professionally affiliated with Brown Physicians Incorporated. According to Brown Physicians Incorporated, Dr. Chu is currently accepting new patients at his office in Warwick, RI.