COOS BAY, Ore. — A new medical clinic in Coos Bay is aiming to make specialized kidney care more accessible for patients across the South Coast.
Coos Kidney Care opened its doors this month and is now accepting new patients.
The clinic provides nephrology care for people managing kidney-related conditions, including chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
For years, some patients in the region have had to travel to Roseburg, Eugene, Medford, or farther away for appointments with a kidney specialist.
Dr. Cyril Kuriakose, a nephrologist with Coos Kidney Care, said the clinic’s opening was driven by the need for more local access to specialty care.
“My colleague kept giving us feedback saying, ‘I have so many patients that are driving all the way to come see me from Coos Bay,’” Dr. Kuriakose said. “It’s really tough to find specialists in this area, and for chronic conditions like chronic kidney disease, it’s a big burden on patients to drive hours to get that care. That’s why we’re here.”
Dr. Kuriakose said kidney disease often requires ongoing monitoring and follow-up, making frequent long-distance travel especially challenging for patients.
He said the clinic is also focused on giving patients more time during appointments to understand their condition and be involved in their care.
“We’re in an era of medicine now where everything is rush, rush, everything is hurried. The feedback you get is that patients have no idea where they sit, not only within the healthcare system, but personally in terms of managing their disease.”
Dr. Kuriakose says intentionally schedules longer appointments because understanding a patient’s history is critical when treating complex kidney conditions.
“Kidney disease, in the majority of times, are not things that pop up overnight. These are things that they’ve been dealing with for years and years. I have to know what that timeline looks like so I can come up with an accurate diagnosis.”
He added that building trust with patients is one of the most important parts of his approach to care.
New Coos Bay clinic brings kidney specialty care closer to South Coast patients
“You have to treat your patient like a family member. I treat each patient like I would want my parents treated.”
Coos Kidney Care held its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday.
Clinic leaders said they hope the new location will help reduce travel barriers and provide more South Coast residents with access to specialized kidney care closer to home.