DaVita Inc. , a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), today announced six of its dialysis facilities in Colorado have received the 2009 End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Silver Award for Clinical Excellence. The award is granted by the Intermountain ESRD Network (Network 15), a federally mandated, nonprofit Colorado corporation that contracts with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to implement the ESRD Network program in its six-state area: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

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Of the approximately 275 dialysis facilities in the Intermountain ESRD Network, only 15 (less than six percent of the overall number) received awards.

"DaVita's clinical outcomes are consistently the best in the industry, and the outstanding teammates who work closely with our dedicated physician partners at these six facilities are a big reason why," said Allen R. Nissenson, Chief Medical Officer for DaVita . "We are proud to be recognized for the care we provide to our patients."

The standards for the Silver Awards are set by the Medical Review Board of Network 15 and require that clinics achieve at least four out of five clinical goals dealing with patient treatment and health outcomes:

  --  a URR of greater than or equal to 65 percent for at least 95 percent
      of all patients;
  --  a Hgb of greater than or equal to 11gm/dl for at least 85 percent of
      patients;
  --  an albumin of greater than or equal to 4.0/3.7 gm/dl (BCG/BCP) in at
      least 35 percent of all patients at the facility;
  --  an AVF use rate of greater than or equal to 66 percent; and

  --  at least 90 percent of patients vaccinated against influenza,
      pneumococcal pneumonia and Hepatitis B.

"I couldn't be happier to be partnering with a company that places clinical outcomes and patient care above all else," said Dr. Michael Shapiro, a physician in DaVita's East Aurora Dialysis Center. "When patients dialyze with DaVita, they have more options for treatment to give them back their lives."

The six DaVita facilities that received the award are Westminster Dialysis Center, Thornton Dialysis Center, Arvada Dialysis Center, Lonetree Dialysis Center (Englewood, CO), North Metro Dialysis Center (Westminster, CO) and Littleton Dialysis Center.

DaVita is a registered trademark of DaVita Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About DaVita Inc.

DaVita Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, providing dialysis services and education for patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. Recognized as the only FORTUNE 500 company on WorldBlu's annual List of Most Democratic Workplaces™. As of March 31, 2009, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 1,475 outpatient dialysis facilities and acute units in approximately 700 hospitals located in 43 states and the District of Columbia, serving approximately 114,000 patients. As part of DaVita's commitment to building a healthy, caring community, DaVita develops, participates in and donates to numerous programs dedicated to transforming communities and creating positive, sustainable change for children, families and our environment. For more information about DaVita, its kidney education materials and its community programs, please visit www.davita.com.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: LeAnne.Zumwalt@davita.com

SOURCE: DaVita Inc.