Nearly 1,000 people screened in Houston and Los Angeles, with a majority showing signs of elevated chronic disease risk
DENVER, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Millions of Americans are living with chronic disease and don’t know it. The risks are often interconnected: High blood pressure and diabetes can increase the risk of kidney disease, while chronic kidney disease (CKD) often progresses without symptoms. More than 35 million U.S. adults have CKD, and most are undiagnosed. Simple screening tests can help uncover these hidden risks earlier, creating an opportunity to act before disease progresses.
DaVita is working to help close that gap by bringing free health screenings and education directly into communities. Through its Community Health Experience, DaVita works with local nonprofit and community partners to reach people in familiar, trusted places and help them identify potential health risks earlier.
This year, DaVita screened nearly 1,000 people across Greater Houston and Los Angeles. Since the program began, the organization has provided health evaluations to more than 5,000 people.
“The Community Health Experience is not just a standalone screening event. It’s an authentic neighborhood partnership,” said Liz Gardner, executive director of the DaVita Giving Foundation. “When you meet people in places they already trust, whether that’s a neighborhood YMCA, a church or alongside a local food distribution, the dynamic completely changes. It transforms what could be an intimidating clinical appointment into a welcoming conversation where people feel seen, supported and empowered to take the next step for their health.”
In partnership with Bridge of Life, local YMCAs and neighborhood organizations, this year’s events also included services like flu shots, food distribution and dental screenings, giving community members access to a broader range of preventive health and wellness services.
Making Hidden Health Risks Visible
Screening can provide a window into health risks that people may not otherwise know are there. Preliminary results from this year’s Community Health Experience events found:
- 64% of participants had a blood pressure reading indicative of hypertension.
- 8% had diabetes.
- 6% had a screening result indicating stage 3A or later CKD.
High blood pressure and diabetes are both major risk factors for CKD, underscoring the connection between identifying these conditions and kidney health.
Participants had access to an onsite nephrologist, including DaVita’s group medical director, Dr. Michael Shomaker, to help interpret their screening results and receive personalized health education. Translators were also available to guide participants through the screening process, helping to provide clear, actionable and culturally sensitive care.
“At one screening event alone, I saw both ends of the spectrum: a participant who was unknowingly on the verge of kidney failure and needed urgent care, and another who showed early warning signs that we were able to catch in time to start proactive management,” said Dr. Shomaker. “Bringing screenings and education directly into these communities has given us as nephrologists the opportunity to step in early, to help catch chronic disease before it progresses.”
Turning Information into Action
Understanding a potential health risk is only the first step. The Community Health Experience is designed to help participants understand what their results mean and what they can do next, including connecting them with primary care and other local health resources.
For Andres, who participated in a Community Health Experience event in Los Angeles, the screening prompted plans for follow-up care. “I realize that just having this opportunity helped me a lot in knowing more about my health,” said Andres. “I plan on going to see the doctor to ask more about my blood pressure and to see a nutritionist.”
DaVita plans to continue working alongside community organizations to bring screenings, education and connections to care closer to where people live, with a focus on helping people understand their health risks earlier and take action before chronic conditions progress.
Learn more about the Community Health Experience at https://communityhealth.davita.com.
About DaVita
DaVita (NYSE: DVA) is a healthcare provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality of life for patients globally. As a comprehensive kidney care provider, DaVita has been a leader in clinical quality and innovation for more than 25 years. DaVita cares for patients at every stage and setting along their kidney health journey — from slowing the progression of kidney disease to helping support transplantation. This includes ensuring they are supported at home, in dialysis centers, in the hospital and in skilled nursing facilities. As of June 30, 2026, DaVita served approximately 298,500 patients at 3,266 outpatient dialysis centers, of which 2,671 centers were located in the United States and 595 centers were located in 14 other countries worldwide. DaVita has reduced hospitalizations, improved mortality, helped improve health access and worked collaboratively to propel the kidney care community to adopt a higher quality standard of care for all patients, everywhere. To learn more, visit DaVita.com/About.
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SOURCE DaVita