DaVita Inc., a leading provider of dialysis services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and disease, today was presented with an honorable mention for Modern Healthcare's Spirit of Excellence Award in recognition for its team building efforts and significant reduction of employee turnover. The publication took note of the company's two-day "DaVita Academy" leadership development and cultural orientation program offered to every teammate (employee), which helps teammates work on personal life skills such as conflict resolution, leadership, time management and goal setting.

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

"Through our unique training programs, we are sending a message to our teammates that everyone can be a leader if provided the opportunity and proper tools," said Bill Shannon, DaVita's Chief Wisdom Officer. "The real success is in the development of our teammates, who are more fulfilled and engaged as a result. Through unique learning programs and opportunities, our teammates respond with enthusiasm for their jobs, fellow teammates, and outstanding patient care."

DaVita University is a core component of DaVita's commitment to teammates. DaVita University features programs, such as DaVita Academy, that focus on improving leadership capabilities through intense self-discovery, skill building, performance management, team leadership and strategic thinking. Since May 2000, DaVita has provided over 1,000,000 hours of personal and professional development programs to teammates at all levels.

DaVita University, along with other efforts, has helped DaVita achieve an industry-leading 50 percent reduction in turnover in just five years. Over the same period, our clinical focus has also delivered dramatic improvements which now rank our clinical performance measures as among the best in the industry.

The Spirit of Excellence Award program, now in its 14th year, recognizes outstanding work by healthcare organizations and their employees to improve the lives of the patients and communities they serve. This year the awards recognized a winner and runner-up in each of five categories: Service, Quality, Community, Team and the newest category CARES which stands for compassion, accountability, respect, enthusiasm and service and represents the basic philosophy behind Sodexho's approach to doing business in the healthcare sector. There were over 100 entries to the overall awards program.

About DaVita Inc.

DaVita Inc. is one of the largest providers of dialysis services in the United States, providing dialysis services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and disease. DaVita manages over 1,200 outpatient facilities and acute units in over 800 hospitals located in 42 states and the District of Columbia, serving approximately 100,000 patients. For more information please visit www.DaVita.com.

About Sodexho USA

Sodexho USA (www.sodexhoUSA.com) is the leading provider of food and facilities management in the United States, with $6 billion in annual revenue and 110,000+ employees. Sodexho USA offers innovative outsourcing solutions in food service, housekeeping, grounds keeping, plant operations and maintenance, asset management, and laundry services to more than 6,000 corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, military and remote sites in North America. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., Sodexho USA proudly serves as the official food service provider for the US Marine Corps.

SOURCE: DaVita Inc.