Nephrology

Refer a Patient

For our most current wait times by specialty and location, see our Access Dashboard.

View Seattle Children’s Access Dashboard

How to Refer a Patient

If you are unsure about whether to refer your patient, please call our clinical intake nurses at 206-987-2080, option 4.

Appointment availability

Updated November 2023.

We are accepting new referrals.  The wait time for new patients is about 2 months. 

Referral requirements

US News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals for nephrology graphicPlease submit a referral that is complete. This helps us schedule your patient’s appointment in a timely manner and ensure their first visit is smooth and productive.    

Incomplete referral information may delay scheduling of the appointment.

Please include:

  • Reason for referral: what is the clinical question for the specialist?
  • If the referral is urgent (see within 4 weeks) or routine (next available)
  • ICD-10 Diagnosis – required
  • Visit type:
    • New patient consult, transfer of care, second opinion, or return visit/ongoing care
  • ALL relevant clinical documents
    • Clinic notes
    • Medication history
    • Growth charts/curves 
    • Lab reports
    • Imaging and diagnostic reports
    • Previous specialty evaluations
  • Patient’s full name, DOB, sex, address, guardian contact information and insurance
  • Referring provider’s name, phone, fax and the referral coordinator’s email address so that we may contact you if additional information is needed
  • Preferred clinic location
  • If an interpreter is needed
  • Any known barriers to performing a successful telehealth (video) visit with the family
  • Renal ultrasound with report

Please note:

  • We do not see patients with recurring UTI or incontinence/bedwetting (enuresis). Resources to help PCPs manage these patients will be available soon on our Urology “Refer a Patient” page.
  • Patients need a new referral if they have not been seen in Nephrology in the last three years.
  • We see new patients ages 0 to 17 for hypertension and new patients through age 20 for other diagnoses.

If you are referring a patient for any of the following conditions, please first review these guidelines:

Submit a referral

New Appointment Request Form (PDF) (DOC)

Step-by-step guide to submitting a referral

New Patient Referral FAQ

Pease call our clinical intake nurses if you need assistance: 206-987-2080, option 4.

We’re committed to partnering with you

If we evaluate your patient and determine they do not have a condition that requires ongoing evaluation and management in a specialty setting, we will return them to you with an appropriate plan of care.

We offer tools to support referring providers in caring for patients who have conditions that can often be evaluated and managed in the primary care setting. Learn more in “Resources for Providers” below.

We are always available to answer questions and support your care of your patients.

  • Diagnosis and treatment options: call 206-987-7777 (Provider-to-Provider Line)
  • Referring or transporting a patient to our Emergency Department or Urgent Care: call 206-987-8899 or toll free 866-987-8899 (ED Communications Center)
  • Questions about scheduling and referrals, including locating or expediting a referral: call 206-987-2080 (clinical intake nurses)

Learn more about managing your patients at Seattle Children's, including viewing your patient’s records.

Meet the Nephrology team.

We see patients at the hospital campus and clinics in Everett, Federal Way, Olympia, Silverdale, Tri-Cities and Wenatchee. See our locations.

What Your Patients Can Expect

  • Once we receive your referral, your patient will be in our queue to review and schedule.
  • Families may call 206-987-2524 to schedule an appointment.
  • We review openings and the patient referral queue routinely.

Resources for Providers

To suggest additional resources from Seattle Children's that would be useful for primary providers, please email us.