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Dr. Spencer Henry Su, MD

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Specializes in: Adult Nephrology and Hospital Medicine (Hospitalist)

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (2002)

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

7500 Beechnut Street Suite 262
Houston, TX 77074

(832) 767-1091

Dr. Spencer Henry Su, MD is a nephrologist in Houston, TX specializing in adult nephrology and hospital medicine (hospitalist). He graduated from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in 2002 and has 22 years of experience. Dr. Spencer Henry Su, MD is affiliated with Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, SAMIR SAHAI MD PLLC and MEMORIAL HERMANN MEDICAL GROUP.

Office Locations

Address:

6560 Fannin Street Suite 2206
Houston, TX 77030

Address:

7500 Beechnut Street Suite 262
Houston, TX 77074

Some issues Dr. Spencer Henry Su, 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.

dialysis	560
doctor visit	222
hospital care	2199
inpatient care	2200

**Gender**
Male	397
Female	345

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	457
Black	165
Hispanic	101
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	225
From 75 to 84	197
85 and over	136
Less than 65	184

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	17
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	31
Heart Failure	73
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	35
Diabetes	62
Dementia	20
Cancer	17

dialysis	544
doctor visit	115
hemofiltration	35
hospital care	2816
inpatient care	2817

**Gender**
Male	439
Female	377

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	511
Black	166
Hispanic	117
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	248
From 75 to 84	218
85 and over	157
Less than 65	193

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	30
Heart Failure	69
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	32
Diabetes	60
Dementia	22
Cancer	17

dialysis	383
doctor visit	109
hospital care	2882
inpatient care	2883

**Gender**
Male	812
Female	682

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	892
Black	338
Hispanic	222
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	480
From 75 to 84	392
85 and over	290
Less than 65	332

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	21
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	21
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	33
Heart Failure	73
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	36
Diabetes	57
Dementia	22
Cancer	16

dialysis	497
doctor visit	175
hospital care	3366
inpatient care	3367

**Gender**
Male	455
Female	379

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	538
Black	176
Hispanic	94
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	255
From 75 to 84	238
85 and over	161
Less than 65	180

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	19
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	29
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	35
Heart Failure	72
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	29
Diabetes	58
Dementia	26
Cancer	18

dialysis	226
doctor visit	104
hospital care	1891
inpatient care	1784
outpatient care	107

**Gender**
Male	283
Female	295

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	284
Black	129
Hispanic	106
Asian	47
Other	12
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	193
From 75 to 84	149
85 and over	103
Less than 65	133

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	19
Ischemic Heart Disease	65
Depression	34
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	24
Heart Failure	58
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	31
Diabetes	62
Dementia	31
Cancer	11

dialysis	91
doctor visit	116
hospital care	1817
inpatient care	1690
outpatient care	127

**Gender**
Male	315
Female	304

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	303
Black	154
Hispanic	108
Asian	41
Other	13
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	222
From 75 to 84	145
85 and over	114
Less than 65	138

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	20
Ischemic Heart Disease	62
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	74
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	55
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	29
Diabetes	54
Dementia	35
Cancer	12

dialysis	67
doctor visit	233
hospital care	1804
inpatient care	1701
outpatient care	103

**Gender**
Male	337
Female	333

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	273
Black	245
Hispanic	111
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	230
From 75 to 84	153
85 and over	92
Less than 65	195

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	23
Ischemic Heart Disease	60
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	69
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	34
Diabetes	53
Dementia	31
Cancer	12

dialysis	73
doctor visit	66
hospital care	1606
inpatient care	1520
outpatient care	86

**Gender**
Male	213
Female	231

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	227
Black	99
Hispanic	67
Asian	40
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	178
From 75 to 84	114
85 and over	70
Less than 65	82

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	26
Ischemic Heart Disease	64
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	22
Heart Failure	57
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	29
Diabetes	59
Dementia	37
Cancer	12

dialysis	89
doctor visit	151
hospital care	2617
inpatient care	2476
outpatient care	141

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Spencer Henry Su, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Spencer Henry Su, MD treated as a nephrologist in Houston, TX were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and outpatient care.

dialysis	282
doctor visit	146
hemofiltration	35
hospital care	2333
inpatient care	2270
outpatient care	112

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer Henry Su, MD.

**Gender**
Male	325
Female	294

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	147
Asian / Pacific Islander	12
Non-Hispanic White	348
Hispanic	92
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	2

**Age**
75 to 84	160
85 and over	112
Less than 65	143
65 to 74	203

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer Henry Su, MD From 2013 - 2021

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

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	55
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	59
Asthma	12
Osteoporosis	8
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	46
Atrial Fibrillation	21
Dementia	22
Cancer	11

Education & Training

Dr. Spencer Henry Su, MD graduated from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in 2002. He completed residency at Baylor College of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals. He has a state license in Texas.

Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (2002)

Residency: Baylor College of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals (2005)

Licensed In: Texas

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Spencer Henry Su, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Houston Methodist

Memorial Hermann

SAMIR SAHAI MD PLLC

MEMORIAL HERMANN MEDICAL GROUP

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. Spencer Henry Su, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Aetna Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Amerigroup, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, Molina Healthcare, Amerigroup Star Plus, Amerigroup Star, WorkLink Worker's Comp, Community Health Choice Star, Medicare Traditional, HMO Blue Texas, BCBS BAV Blue Advantage HMO Exchange, Memorial Hermann Advantage HMO, Memorial Hermann Solutions, Community Health Choice Marketplace QHP, Community Health Choice Chip, Amerivantage and Memorial Hermann Advantage PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Spencer Henry Su, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Aetna Medicare

Medicare Advantage

Amerigroup

United Healthcare

Aetna

Cigna

BlueCross BlueShield of Texas

Molina Healthcare

Amerigroup Star Plus

Amerigroup Star

WorkLink Worker's Comp

Community Health Choice Star

Medicare Traditional

HMO Blue Texas

BCBS BAV Blue Advantage HMO Exchange

Memorial Hermann Advantage HMO

Memorial Hermann Solutions

Community Health Choice Marketplace QHP

Community Health Choice Chip

Amerivantage

Memorial Hermann Advantage PPO

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General Payments

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

**Payments by Company**
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	$3,005 SOLIRIS $2,962	ULTOMIRIS $42
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.	$1,050 JYNARQUE $876	SAMSCA $174
Relypsa, Inc.	$610 VELTASSA $610
Horizon Therapeutics plc	$584 KRYSTEXXA $584
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP	$529 LOKELMA $297	FARXIGA $217	$15
Other	$6,256 ACTHAR $859	Rayaldee $399	Kerendia $358	VELTASSA $312	XARELTO $295	Other $4,033

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$9,272
Consulting Fee	$1,500
Travel and Lodging	$1,028
Education	$234

Biography

Dr. Spencer Su is a specialist in adult nephrology. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Houston Methodist and Memorial Hermann. Dr. Su graduated from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine.