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Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD

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Specializes in: Adult Nephrology

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Professional interests include: hypertension (high blood pressure), kidney problems, dialysis, and more.

43 High Street
Wareham, MA 02571

(508) 973-5919

Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD is a nephrologist in East Providence, RI specializing in adult nephrology. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD is affiliated with The Miriam Hospital, Brown Medicine, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Brown Physicians Incorporated, Rhode Island Hospital (RIH) and SOUTHCOAST PHYSICIANS GROUP INC.

Office Locations

Rhode Island Hospital (RIH)

375 Wampanoag Trail Suite 302
East Providence, RI 02915

(401) 649-4060

(401) 649-4061

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375 Wampanoag Trail Suite 302a
Riverside, RI 02915

(401) 649-4060

(401) 649-4061

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43 High Street
Wareham, MA 02571

(508) 973-5919

(508) 973-5916

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Some issues Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD can help you with:

Dialysis

Dialysis is a procedure that replicates renal (kidney) function by filtering patients' blood. When kidneys do not work properly, waste can accumulate in the blood and unbalanced chemicals can impair the body's critical functions. In order to stay healthy, a person without proper kidney function must receive dialysis. There are two forms of dialysis treatment: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Both forms of dialysis are recurring treatments that in many cases last throughout the lifetime of the affected patient. Patients who briefly lose renal function may slowly reduce the frequency of dialysis sessions until their kidneys recover. However, most patients who start on dialysis remain on dialysis for the rest of their lives or until they receive a kidney transplant.

A number of conditions can worsen renal function and lead to end-stage or acute kidney failure. When kidneys fail (i.e. nearly 90 percent of their function is lost), dialysis is typically prescribed. Conditions that cause chronic kidney failure (eventually requiring dialysis) include:

Type 1 and 2 Diabetes
Pyelonephritis, recurring kidney infection
Glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the kidney's filtering parts
Polycystic kidney disease
Interstitial nephritis, inflammation of the kidney's tubules
High blood pressure
Vesicoureteral reflux, improper bladder emptying

For hemodialysis (the more common form of dialysis), a patient will visit a hospital or clinic and be connected to a dialysis machine by a needle attached to a tube that draws blood from the arm. The drawn blood is transferred to the dialysis machine, where it is filtered and separated until clean. Waste products from the blood pass into a fluid called dialysate, which is pumped out of the machine into a waste receptacle. The machine also measures and helps ensure the blood has the appropriate level of fluid, electrolytes, and pH. A tube delivers the cleaned blood back into the patient's body. A dialysis session like this will typically last for three to four hours, with a patient undergoing dialysis around three times per week.

A second method of dialysis is known as peritoneal dialysis. Unlike hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis can be performed at home by oneself after an initial surgery. To start, a physician (generally a surgeon) will make a small incision in the lower abdomen and insert and surgically attach a catheter (thin tube). At home, the patient connects a pump to the abdomen catheter, delivering dialysate (dialysis fluid) from a bag hanging on a wheeled stand. This fluid enters the peritoneal cavity (greater abdomen area containing the stomach, liver, and intestines) and collects waste through osmosis, where waste in the blood moves across a membrane and into the dialysate. This process continues for several hours until the fluid concentration is equal between the blood and dialysate, at which point the fluid can be drained. The fluid can then be passed through a machine called a cycler, which removes waste and allows for the dialysate to be reused. This process is repeated about four times per day. Dialysis patients must limit the amount of fluid they consume prior to receiving dialysis and should also avoid eating salty foods. The cycler cannot filter more than a certain amount of waste products from the blood.

Kidneys are important organs, and dialysis treatments are vital for those with renal dysfunction. For many, dialysis is not so much a medical procedure but a part of their normal life.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard deposits that form in the kidneys, made up of minerals that are normally present in urine. They can vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a nickel, occasionally even larger. Sometimes they lodge in the kidney, and sometimes they break free and make their way out through the urinary tract, which can be extremely painful.

Kidney stones can be smooth or jagged and are yellow to brown in color. They are mostly comprised of the minerals calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus. Examining the stones to see what they are made of can show what caused the stone to be formed in the first place. For example, a stone made of mostly calcium, which is the most common type, can happen any time the urine becomes too concentrated due to dehydration or a blockage in the kidney. A uric acid stone forms when acid levels in the urine get too high, usually due to excessive consumption of animal protein such as meat and fish. A struvite stone is a sign of certain infections, and a cystine stone can be due to a genetic disorder that raises the risk of kidney stones.

The most common symptom of kidney stones is pain, either in the back or lower abdomen, or severe pain when urinating. There may also be blood in the urine. Treatment for kidney stones depends on how large the stone is. Very small stones can pass out of the body on their own, and they do not require treatment other than drinking adequate water and taking pain killers. Larger stones need to be broken apart and removed. The main treatment options are:

Shock wave lithotripsy, which uses sound wave vibrations to break apart the stone
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy, or the use of a very tiny tool (like a wire inserted through the back) to break apart and remove the stone
Ureteroscopy, a thin tube inserted through the urethra and bladder to the stone, where tiny tools can grasp the stone and remove

People who have had one kidney stone are at risk of developing another. To reduce this risk, patients are given instructions specific to the type of stone they developed. Generally the instructions will include drinking more water to dilute the urine, but it may also involve lowering sodium intake or eating less meat.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated as a nephrologist in East Providence, RI during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	94
doctor visit	299
hospital care	377
inpatient care	349
outpatient care	28

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated as a nephrologist in East Providence, RI during 2013 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	45
doctor visit	307
hospital care	360
inpatient care	332
outpatient care	28

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD.

**Gender**
Male	198
Female	187

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	296
Black	44
Hispanic	25
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	115
From 75 to 84	90
85 and over	56
Less than 65	124

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD in 2013

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	58
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	22
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	58
Dementia	14
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated as a nephrologist in East Providence, RI during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	85
doctor visit	338
hospital care	656
inpatient care	619
outpatient care	37

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD.

**Gender**
Male	282
Female	227

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	386
Black	50
Hispanic	48
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	157
From 75 to 84	122
85 and over	69
Less than 65	161

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD in 2014

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	58
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	29
Diabetes	60
Dementia	18
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated as a nephrologist in East Providence, RI during 2015 were hospital care, inpatient care, outpatient care and dialysis.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	38
doctor visit	353
hospital care	466
inpatient care	416
outpatient care	50

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD.

**Gender**
Male	418
Female	480

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	708
Black	74
Hispanic	72
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	276
From 75 to 84	188
85 and over	142
Less than 65	292

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD in 2015

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	61
Depression	42
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	24
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	49
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	33
Diabetes	58
Dementia	16
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated as a nephrologist in East Providence, RI during 2016 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	61
doctor visit	303
hospital care	384
inpatient care	341
outpatient care	43

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD.

**Gender**
Male	222
Female	201

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	324
Black	46
Hispanic	33
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	129
From 75 to 84	99
85 and over	71
Less than 65	124

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD in 2016

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	60
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	34
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	30
Diabetes	58
Dementia	18
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated as a nephrologist in East Providence, RI during 2017 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	49
doctor visit	314
hospital care	431
inpatient care	383
outpatient care	48

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD.

**Gender**
Male	223
Female	191

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	344
Black	32
Hispanic	20
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	114
From 75 to 84	115
85 and over	75
Less than 65	110

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD in 2017

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	63
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	25
Heart Failure	50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	34
Diabetes	60
Dementia	22
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated as a nephrologist in East Providence, RI during 2018 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	41
doctor visit	293
hospital care	482
inpatient care	450
outpatient care	32

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD.

**Gender**
Male	232
Female	188

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	347
Black	29
Hispanic	24
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	145
From 75 to 84	112
85 and over	74
Less than 65	89

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	68
Depression	42
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	28
Heart Failure	54
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	31
Diabetes	58
Dementia	24
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated as a nephrologist in East Providence, RI during 2019 were hospital care, inpatient care and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	206
hospital care	288
inpatient care	262
outpatient care	26

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD.

**Gender**
Male	171
Female	153

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	275
Black	22
Hispanic	16
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	117
From 75 to 84	77
85 and over	57
Less than 65	73

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD in 2019

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	14
Ischemic Heart Disease	63
Depression	44
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	25
Heart Failure	50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	30
Diabetes	58
Dementia	23
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated as a nephrologist in East Providence, RI during 2020 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	135
hospital care	361
inpatient care	361

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD.

**Gender**
Male	199
Female	150

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	291
Black	21
Hispanic	25
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	108
From 75 to 84	110
85 and over	67
Less than 65	64

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD in 2020

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	64
Depression	46
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	26
Heart Failure	55
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	31
Diabetes	56
Dementia	29
Cancer	16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated as a nephrologist in East Providence, RI during 2021 were hospital care, inpatient care and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	188
hospital care	266
inpatient care	249
outpatient care	17

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD.

**Gender**
Male	137
Female	138

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	214
Black	21
Hispanic	25
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	91
From 75 to 84	86
85 and over	40
Less than 65	58

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD in 2021

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	59
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	49
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	59
Dementia	23
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated as a nephrologist in East Providence, RI during 2022 were hospital care, inpatient care and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	156
hospital care	372
inpatient care	357
outpatient care	15

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD.

**Gender**
Male	146
Female	146

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	232
Black	20
Hispanic	21
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	72
From 75 to 84	107
85 and over	55
Less than 65	58

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	19
Ischemic Heart Disease	46
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	37
Heart Failure	42
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	49
Dementia	17
Cancer	23

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated as a nephrologist in East Providence, RI were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and outpatient care.

dialysis	59
doctor visit	262
hospital care	403
inpatient care	374
outpatient care	32

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD.

**Gender**
Male	202
Female	187

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	32
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	310
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	28
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	100
85 and over	64
Less than 65	104
65 to 74	120

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD treated were chronic kidney disease, high cholesterol, hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	54
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	68
Asthma	14
Osteoporosis	8
Heart Failure	45
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	52
Atrial Fibrillation	22
Dementia	18
Cancer	12

Education & Training

Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He completed residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He has a state license in Massachusetts.

Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Licensed In: Massachusetts

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

The Miriam Hospital

Brown Medicine

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Brown Physicians Incorporated

Rhode Island Hospital (RIH)

SOUTHCOAST PHYSICIANS GROUP INC

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. John W. O'Bell, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP	$969 FARXIGA $778	$191
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.	$163 BENLYSTA $163
AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS INC	$68 Auryxia $68
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	$43 $43
Amgen Inc.	$33 $33
Other	$10 ACTHAR $10

**Types of Payments**
Consulting Fee	$778
Food and Beverage	$497
Education	$10

Biography

Dr. John Obell is a hospital medicine (hospitalist) and adult nephrology specialist. Areas of expertise for Dr. Obell include kidney stones, hypertension (high blood pressure), and glomerular diseases. Before completing his residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dr. Obell attended medical school at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He is affiliated with Brown Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, and Rhode Island Hospital (RIH). His practice in East Providence, RI is open to new patients as reported by Brown Physicians Incorporated.