DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), in conjunction with DaVita Clinical Research® (DCR), today unveils innovative research featured in five abstracts at the Twenty-ninth Annual Dialysis Conference (ADC) in Houston, TX. The spectrum of research includes developments in pediatric dialysis, home hemodialysis and CKD education. In particular, DaVita's Abstract on CKD education shows patients enrolled in the EMPOWER™ program are more likely to choose a fistula, the optimum form of vascular access, and take an active role in their care.

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  The five abstracts unveiled today include:

        -- EMPOWERing Patients to Take Control of Kidney Disease
           Susan Wright, BSN, RN, Amy Bogan BSN, RN and Ajay Chokshi

        -- Case Study: Buttonhole Cannulation Technique with Keloid-Scarred
           Skin
           Sylvia Donato-Moore, BSN, RN, CNN

        -- Experience with Intradialytic Parenteral Nutrition at a Pediatric
           Hemodialysis Unit
           Kathleen Traficanti, BS, RD

        -- NxStage® Pureflow SL Culture and LAL Collection Using the NxStage
           Sample Bag
           Debbie Allen, RN, CNN

        -- Profiles of Successful Daily Home Hemodialysis Patient-Care
           Partner Dyads: From Mutual Benefits to Martydom
           Meg Wise, PhD, Dorian Shatell, MS, Kristi Klicko, CHES and Mary
           Showers, RN, CNN

DaVita Chief Medical Officer, Allen R. Nissenson, MD states, "DaVita is proud to be a part of ADC, which is an outstanding conference that solely focuses on dialysis. As a leader in clinical outcomes, and a provider who serves more than 1-in-4 dialysis patients in the nation, we will continue our research and the Relentless Pursuit of Quality™. Amongst DaVita's many research findings, we will share our early data from our EMPOWER Program pilot in 2008, demonstrating the importance of early CKD education."

The abstract focusing on the DaVita® EMPOWER™ program is especially significant as it is the first time data on this program has been released. The EMPOWER program is a series of educational classes where earlier stage CKD patients, starting in Stage 3, can learn more about kidney disease. DaVita nurses, renal dietitians and social workers use a multidisciplinary approach to educate patients. The EMPOWER program is provided at no charge to patients, and early results indicate educating patients before they begin dialysis will have an impact on their health and quality of life. Research shows patients who went through DaVita's EMPOWER program were more likely to have a fistula in place on their first outpatient dialysis treatment. According to studies, fistula patients have the fewest complications, such as infection or clotting, in comparison to any other access choices.

The abstract also indicates 35 percent of all EMPOWER educated patients chose a home modality, reflecting a stronger sense of patient independence and desire to be actively involved in their own care.

In addition to the abstracts, DaVita is pleased to have several invited speakers presenting, Dr. Kamyar Kalantar-Zahed, MD, one of DCR's intellectual research partners, has two presentations: Body Mass Index and Mortality, and Defining Protein Energy Wasting in Dialysis. Additionally, Dr. Nissenson and Dr. Robert Provnenzano, MD are featured speakers at ADC, and will discuss the topics of Elderly Peritoneal Dialysis Patients and Regulatory Issues and Economic Results.

DaVita, DaVita Clinical Research and EMPOWER and the Relentless Pursuit of Quality are trademarks or registered trademarks 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. DaVita manages more than 1,400 outpatient facilities and acute units in more than 700 hospitals located in 43 states and the District of Columbia, serving approximately 110,000 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.