One of the nation's largest dialysis providers, DaVita Inc., announced today that the company will make its hotline, 800-400-8331, available again this year for kidney patients to find open clinics and schedule treatments during emergencies like hurricanes and other natural disasters.

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

Last year the hotline received more than 20,000 calls between August 31 and October 5, 2005 in the aftermaths of Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita. The company was able to provide care to more than 7,000 DaVita patients affected by the hurricanes as well as help other patients schedule dialysis treatments at facilities in the area.

"We recognize that this is a valuable service we can provide to the entire chronic kidney disease population during a time of much confusion and distress for every community," stated DaVita CEO Kent Thiry. "We are asking the local media and emergency service providers to keep this number on their Web sites and in their information files for the duration of the season. The entire kidney care community works together in emergencies such as these -- the teamwork demonstrated by the emergency service providers, the government, and the dialysis provider community has been amazing."

Kidney failure patients -- who require dialysis treatments three times per week -- are at high risk during emergencies like hurricanes. These patients depend on these life-sustaining treatments. The DaVita Hotline is a resource to let patients and their families know whether clinics are open for treatment. Live operators assist in making alternative arrangements for treatment if necessary.

DaVita provides high-quality prevention and treatment services to Americans with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). We serve nearly 100,000 patients in 41 states and the District of Columbia in over 1,200 outpatient facilities.

SOURCE: DaVita Inc.