DaVita Inc. announced today that it has reopened a seventh kidney dialysis facility affected by Hurricane Katrina. DaVita, the largest independent provider of dialysis services in the United States provides treatments to approximately 900 patients and employs 225 teammates in the New Orleans area.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/DAVITALOGO )

"I am excited to announce that all seven of DaVita's open dialysis facilities are now on the power grid, eliminating the need for emergency generators," stated DaVita CEO Kent Thiry. DaVita has nine more clinics in the area that are still closed.

Also, DaVita has accelerated the process of building new clinics in the area. Three clinics that were scheduled to open in 2006 have been put on the fast track for development, with the goal of opening by the end of this year.

Using its nationwide network of clinics, DaVita has been accepting evacuee patients across the country. Over 200 patients were accepted in the state of Texas and evacuees have been admitted as far away as Maryland, Colorado, and California.

DaVita teammates were also displaced by the storm. Fourteen DaVita teammates have been employed in Texas facilities alone. DaVita has made a commitment to pay all affected teammates for the near term.

In order to help patients and their families, DaVita has set up a hurricane relief fund. Donations to patients should be made out to "M Brock f/b/o Patient Hurricane Relief Fund" and mailed to Sunsational Divisional Office, Attn: Hurricane Donations, 4949 Grand Blvd, New Port Richey, FL 34652.

DaVita is a leading provider of dialysis services for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure. DaVita operates and provides administrative services to kidney dialysis centers and home peritoneal dialysis programs domestically in 37 states, as well as Washington, D.C. As of June 30, 2005, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 706 outpatient centers serving approximately 57,200 patients.

SOURCE: DaVita Inc.