DENVER, Feb. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita Kidney Care, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. (NYSE: DVA) and a leading provider of kidney care services, today announced that the company is a leader in immunizations for kidney care providers and has exceeded its own previous immunization rates for both dialysis patients and teammates.

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As of Dec. 31, 2014, DaVita Kidney Care achieved the following:

    --  Over 92 percent of patients immunized for seasonal influenza
    --  Over 93 percent of patients immunized for pneumococcal pneumonia
    --  Over 92 percent of teammates immunized for seasonal influenza

DaVita Kidney Care has historically had an intense focus on infection control and prevention. In 2014, DaVita Kidney Care received an Immunization Excellence Award in the "Healthcare Personnel Campaign" category at the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit.

"High rates of immunization for both dialysis patients and teammates create the 'herd immunity' recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and should result in significant benefits," said David Van Wyck, M.D., vice president of clinical affairs for DaVita Kidney Care. "Achieving high rates of vaccination is consistent with our goal to improve overall quality of life, reduce avoidable hospitalizations and save the taxpayer significant health care costs by focusing on the holistic health needs of patients."

The 2014-2015 flu season is still in full swing and is expanding, according to a recent press release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months old and older. It also cites documented benefits from flu vaccination on its website, including reductions in illnesses, related doctors' visits and missed work or school. Vaccination also helps prevent flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.

"Our focus on world-class outcomes, coupled with our knowledge of the vulnerability of this patient population to infection, results in a long track record of patient and teammate participation in our vaccination program," said Javier Rodriguez, president and CEO of DaVita Kidney Care.

About DaVita Kidney Care

DaVita Kidney Care is a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., a Fortune 500® company that, through its operating divisions, provides a variety of health care services to patient populations throughout the United States and abroad. A leading provider of dialysis services in the United States, DaVita Kidney Care treats patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita Kidney Care strives to improve patients' quality of life by innovating clinical care, and by offering integrated treatment plans, personalized care teams and convenient health-management services. As of Sept. 30, 2014, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,152 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 170,000 patients. The company also operated 87 outpatient dialysis centers located in 10 countries outside the United States. DaVita Kidney Care supports numerous programs dedicated to creating positive, sustainable change in communities around the world. The company's leadership development initiatives and social responsibility efforts have been recognized by Fortune, Modern Healthcare, Newsweek and WorldBlu. For more information, please visit DaVita.com.

DaVita and DaVita HealthCare Partners are trademarks or registered trademarks of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.

Contact Information
Media:
Bianca Violante
bianca.violante@davita.com
(303) 876-6614

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SOURCE DaVita Kidney Care

SOURCE: DaVita Kidney Care