Nephrology is the study and treatment of those with kidney disorders. A nephrologist is a physician who diagnoses and manages kidney disease and kidney function. A nephrologist consults with a surgeon regarding a patient’s kidney transplantation, and will help manage blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte balance in the body, and dialysis procedures. This physician has special training in dialysis physiology, management of renal failure, pharmacology, hypertension and nutrition.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. The United States has 9,170 practicing nephrologists. Broken out by state, nephrology doctor density in Alabama is 131, in Alaska is 6, in Arizona is 160, in Arkansas is 61, in California is 1,041, in Colorado is 113, in Connecticut is 138, in Delaware is 34, in District of Columbia is 75, in Florida is 533, in Georgia is 282, in Hawaii is 26, in Idaho is 23, in Illinois is 380, in Indiana is 182, in Iowa is 78, in Kansas is 66, in Kentucky is 128, in Louisiana is 156, in Maine is 33, in Maryland is 216, in Massachusetts is 332, in Michigan is 283, in Minnesota is 173, in Mississippi is 94, in Missouri is 199, in Montana is 19, in Nebraska is 44, in Nevada is 50, in New Hampshire is 27, in New Jersey is 350, in New Mexico is 54, in New York is 834, in North Carolina is 258, in North Dakota is 21, in Ohio is 353, in Oklahoma is 66, in Oregon is 78, in Pennsylvania is 473, in Rhode Island is 39, in South Carolina is 137, in South Dakota is 21, in Tennessee is 186, in Texas is 658, in Utah is 35, in Vermont is 14, in Virginia is 232, in Washington is 155, in West Virginia is 57, in Wisconsin is 144, and in Wyoming is 8.