Kentucky has the 2nd highest rate of chronic kidney disease in the nation, yet two strong pediatric programs — Norton Children's in Louisville and UK HealthCare's Kentucky Children's Hospital in Lexington — serve the state. Eastern Kentucky's Appalachian communities remain among the most medically underserved in the country, with families sometimes 3–4 hours from either center. All information hand-curated and independently verified.
Kentucky has two major pediatric nephrology centers — one at each end of the I-64 corridor. Norton Children's serves Louisville and Southern Indiana; UK HealthCare serves Lexington and central/eastern Kentucky. UK also offers satellite transplant follow-up clinics in Louisville and Bowling Green so families don't always have to travel to Lexington.
Families in Pike County, Floyd County, Letcher County, and surrounding Appalachian communities face long drives to both Louisville and Lexington. Cincinnati Children's (90 miles from Lexington) and WVU Children's may be closer for some families. Ask your primary care provider about the best referral option for your location.
Depending on where in Kentucky you live, one of these centers may be as close as or closer than Louisville or Lexington.
Browse currently recruiting kidney disease studies in Kentucky on ClinicalTrials.gov. Both Norton Children's and UK HealthCare participate in multi-center studies.
Do not wait to contact your nephrologist. Call 911 or go to the nearest ER first.