Under the direction of Dr. Harry Winkler, the Center treats a wide range of conditions involving stones in the kidney and urinary tract.
Patients usually come to the Center either through the emergency room following an episode of pain, or by referral from a community physician.
On arrival, each patient is assessed to establish their condition, and where needed, imaging such as a urinary tract ultrasound or CT scan is carried out. The findings, together with the patient’s overall condition, determine the course of treatment, which may be either conservative or surgical.
Surgery to break up kidney and urinary tract stones
All procedures at the Center are performed endoscopically — a minimally invasive technique that uses a tiny camera to reach the stones in the urinary tract and break them up with a laser.
These procedures are usually carried out under general anaesthesia.
Metabolic investigation of kidney stones
Metabolic testing is used to understand why a patient is forming kidney stones and how to prevent them recurring — through recommendations on fluid intake and a suitable diet, and where appropriate, supplementary medication.
Patients are prepared for surgery in the pre-anaesthesia clinic.
Most procedures at the Center are carried out as day cases, and patients are usually discharged home within a few hours.
Patients must be fasting when they arrive for surgery.
The hospital is independent of the HMO, and members of all HMOs are accepted there.
Members of Meuhedet HMO and Maccabi are admitted to the clinic by presentation of a referral only or by payment according to the hospital's price list.
As part of the agreements also with Clalit and Leumit HMOs, Forms 17 will be given to the outpatient clinics, or a payment will be made according to the hospital's price list.
