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Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD

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Specializes in: Adult Nephrology

Professional interests include: peritoneal dialysis, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), preventive care, and more.

1525 Webster Street Suite A
Fairfield, CA 94533

(707) 423-2506

Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD is a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA specializing in adult nephrology. Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD is affiliated with Providence, Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center and Petaluma Valley Hospital.

Office Locations

1525 Webster Street Suite A
Fairfield, CA 94533

(707) 423-2506

(707) 429-1158

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Some issues Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, 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.

Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis is a procedure that imitates renal (kidney) function by filtering patients' blood. When the 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.

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 peritoneal dialysis can be vital for those with renal dysfunction. Peritoneal dialysis may be a more convenient alternative to hemodialysis, which requires going into a clinic.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	51
doctor visit	593
hospital care	345
inpatient care	345

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA during 2013 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	30
doctor visit	499
hospital care	323
inpatient care	323

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD.

**Gender**
Male	109
Female	101

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	80
Black	64
Hispanic	37
Asian	18
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	67
From 75 to 84	63
85 and over	25
Less than 65	55

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD in 2013

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	62
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	47
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	72
Dementia	11
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	51
doctor visit	311
hospital care	333
inpatient care	333

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD.

**Gender**
Male	95
Female	76

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	70
Black	49
Hispanic	0
Asian	24
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	64
From 75 to 84	44
85 and over	15
Less than 65	48

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD in 2014

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	62
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	47
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	75
Dementia	12
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA during 2015 were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	15
doctor visit	569
hospital care	382
inpatient care	382

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD.

**Gender**
Male	254
Female	252

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	188
Black	118
Hispanic	100
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	172
From 75 to 84	128
85 and over	62
Less than 65	144

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD in 2015

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	56
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	17
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	40
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	21
Diabetes	68
Dementia	10
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA during 2016 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	519
hospital care	542
inpatient care	542

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD.

**Gender**
Male	114
Female	105

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	77
Black	45
Hispanic	47
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	74
From 75 to 84	60
85 and over	20
Less than 65	65

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD in 2016

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	61
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	58
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	22
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	44
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	72
Dementia	11
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA during 2017 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	519
hospital care	479
inpatient care	479

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD.

**Gender**
Male	107
Female	104

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	64
Black	54
Hispanic	47
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	68
From 75 to 84	67
85 and over	21
Less than 65	55

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD in 2017

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	61
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	58
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	46
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	74
Dementia	15
Cancer	7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA during 2018 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	472
hospital care	405
inpatient care	405

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD.

**Gender**
Male	102
Female	101

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	69
Black	44
Hispanic	51
Asian	27
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	72
From 75 to 84	66
85 and over	21
Less than 65	44

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	65
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	46
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	75
Dementia	17
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA during 2019 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	365
hospital care	389
inpatient care	389

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD.

**Gender**
Male	98
Female	93

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	70
Black	37
Hispanic	46
Asian	27
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	66
From 75 to 84	58
85 and over	23
Less than 65	44

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD in 2019

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	61
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	61
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	49
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	75
Dementia	12
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA during 2020 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	276
hospital care	196
inpatient care	196

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD.

**Gender**
Male	90
Female	72

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	61
Black	35
Hispanic	36
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	59
From 75 to 84	44
85 and over	18
Less than 65	41

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD in 2020

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	65
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	75
Dementia	16
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA during 2021 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	236
hospital care	170
inpatient care	170

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD.

**Gender**
Male	88
Female	50

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	53
Black	29
Hispanic	34
Asian	11
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	54
From 75 to 84	35
85 and over	13
Less than 65	36

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD in 2021

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	62
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	54
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	75
Dementia	13
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA during 2022 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	173
hospital care	88
inpatient care	88

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD.

**Gender**
Male	82
Female	55

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	58
Black	28
Hispanic	31
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	51
From 75 to 84	42
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	15
Ischemic Heart Disease	50
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	32
Heart Failure	50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	75
Dementia	11
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA during 2023 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	87
hospital care	31
inpatient care	31

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD.

**Gender**
Male	69
Female	32

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	42
Black	20
Hispanic	22
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	31
From 75 to 84	32
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD in 2023

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	17
Ischemic Heart Disease	49
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	37
Heart Failure	48
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	75
Dementia	15
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2023

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD treated as a nephrologist in Fairfield, CA were hospital care, inpatient care and dialysis.

dialysis	36
doctor visit	384
hospital care	306
inpatient care	306

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2023

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD.

**Gender**
Male	100
Female	86

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	43
Asian / Pacific Islander	8
Non-Hispanic White	69
Hispanic	37
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	53
85 and over	18
Less than 65	44
65 to 74	64

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD From 2012 - 2023

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

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	54
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	68
Asthma	11
Osteoporosis	3
Heart Failure	43
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	67
Atrial Fibrillation	14
Cancer	3
Dementia	11

Education & Training

He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine and has a state license in California.

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine

Licensed In: California

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Providence

Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center

Petaluma Valley Hospital

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. Steven R. Tolkan, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Aetna PPO, CIGNA PPO, CIGNA HMO, Western Health Advantage HMO, Blue Shield of California, MultiPlan PPO, Medicare Advantage, Interplan PPO, TriWest, Anthem Blue Cross HMO, Anthem Blue Cross PPO, Health Net PPO, Health Net HMO, Anthem, United Healthcare PPO, United Healthcare HMO, US Family Health Plan, Aetna Medicare PPO, Partnership Health Plan of California, ChoiceHumana PPO and CoventryFirst Health PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Steven R. Tolkan, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Aetna PPO

CIGNA PPO

CIGNA HMO

Western Health Advantage HMO

Blue Shield of California

MultiPlan PPO

Medicare Advantage

Interplan PPO

TriWest

Anthem Blue Cross HMO

Anthem Blue Cross PPO

Health Net PPO

Health Net HMO

Anthem

United Healthcare PPO

United Healthcare HMO

US Family Health Plan

Aetna Medicare PPO

Partnership Health Plan of California

ChoiceHumana PPO

CoventryFirst Health PPO

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General Payments

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

**Payments by Company**
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP	$676 LOKELMA $533	FARXIGA $130	CRESTOR $12
Baxter Healthcare	$289 Renal - PD $289
Vifor Pharma, Inc.	$119 $119
Relypsa, Inc.	$111 VELTASSA $111
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.	$101 JYNARQUE $101
Other	$437 REMODULIN $37	Colcrys $33	Tavneos $28	Auryxia $24	XIFAXAN $24	Other $291

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$1,705
Education	$28

Biography

Dr. Steven Tolkan's area of specialization is adult nephrology. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. His areas of expertise include partial nephrectomy, polycystic kidney disease, and radical nephrectomy. Dr. Tolkan accepts several insurance carriers, including Anthem, Blue California, and HealthSmart. He is professionally affiliated with Providence.