DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 17, 2013-- DaVita®, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.(NYSE:DVA) and a leading provider of kidney care services, shares resources for patients to have a stress-free holiday season.

During this holiday season and time of celebration, DaVita is committed to providing helpful tips on winter travel, holiday cooking recipes and dialysis-friendly gifts.

Patients traveling this holiday season are encouraged to follow the travel checklist, which includes talking to their care team, finding a convenient dialysis center in the area to which they’re traveling, even for those on home modality options, and bringing extra medication and medical information. Patients using wheelchairs or bringing along their dialysis equipment should also allow extra time at the airport. These and other helpful travel tips can be found on DaVita.com or by contacting DaVita Guest Services at 1-855-963-2848.

“Traveling can be stressful, especially during the holidays, but also allows freedom and a chance to return to normalcy for the holidays,” said Dyane Shanahan, franchisee business owner and DaVita dialysis patient. “As a part-time travel agent, I’ve been fortunate to travel nationally and internationally and it helps me get back a part of my life before dialysis.”

For patients planning to stay home for the holidays and prepare a holiday meal, DaVita offers a no-cost, downloadable holiday cookbook with kidney- and diabetes-friendly recipes. With tips found in the cooking collection, patients can more easily monitor their diet and keep their potassium, phosphorus, protein and sodium levels in check while enjoying delicious homemade holiday food. DaVita’s website also includes more than 800 kidney-friendly recipes and tips with monthly recipe alerts delivered for those that sign up at myDaVita.com at DaVita.com/register.

Friends and family looking for gift ideas for dialysis patients may consider such dialysis-friendly gifts as neck pillows, heated blankets, electronic devices and loose-fitting or dialysis-friendly clothing that offers easy vascular access.

“Patients spend hours on dialysis, whether that is in-center three times a week or at home, so receiving gifts that make their lives easier or help pass the time while they’re on dialysis is definitely appreciated,” said Duane Dunn, director of social work services at DaVita. “Patients also are often cold, so warm clothing or blankets could be greatly beneficial in making them as comfortable as possible during their treatments.”

To contact DaVita Guest Services about coordinating travel or any other questions, please call them at 1-866-963-2848.

“Important note: the foregoing information and information provided on the DaVita website is provided only as a general reminder and a courtesy to dialysis patients. It is not intended as medical or dietary advice for any particular patient. Dialysis patients should also consult with their physician, dietitian and other care providers to prepare for their own personal travel and dietary needs.”

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

About DaVita

DaVita is the dialysis 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 kidney care in the United States, DaVita delivers dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita 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, 2013, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 2,042 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 166,000 patients. The company also operated 66 outpatient dialysis centers located in 10 countries outside the United States. DaVita 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.

Source: DaVita

Media:
DaVita
Justin Forbis, 303-876-7496
Justin.Forbis@davita.com