By stage four, people with kidney disease usually visit their nephrologist every three months for testing. During this stage the nephrologist will explain the treatment options for kidney failure, including dialysis and transplantation. If the patient chooses dialysis, the doctor will explain the different types of dialysis treatments available such as hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. At this point, the patient will schedule surgery to have their dialysis access placed. For hemodialysis, a fistula provides the safest access site to receive treatment and is placed in the patients arm or in some cases their leg. If you choose peritoneal dialysis, a catheter will be placed in your abdomen in order to perform treatment. Read more about access types here.