DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2013-- DaVita®, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.(NYSE: DVA) and a leading provider of kidney care services, announced that the company has exceeded its goal of vaccinating 90 percent of its dialysis patients for influenza and pneumonia this flu season.

As of Nov. 18, DaVita had vaccinated 91.6 percent of its patients for influenza and 92.3 percent of its patients for pneumonia.

DaVita recognizes that vaccinations are critical for protection against viruses in kidney patients and therefore offers the vaccines at no cost to patients. To reach the 90 percent goal, DaVita teammates and attending physicians worked together to educate patients on the importance of getting vaccinated.

"I am grateful for the information my caregivers provided about vaccinations," said DaVita patient Joe Garcia at DaVita Beeville Renal Center in Beeville, Texas. "Since I also work as a school bus driver, it’s important for me to stay healthy and now I understand how getting vaccinated plays a vital role in my health."

Studies have shown that high vaccination rates relate directly to fewer hospitalizations, which can lead to a better quality of life for dialysis patients. To combat the spread of the seasonal flu virus DaVita provides flu vaccines for its patients and teammates.

"Seasonal flu can be especially harmful to patients with kidney disease because of their increased risk of serious complications," explained Dr. Allen R. Nissenson, DaVita's chief medical officer. "At DaVita we are committed to improving quality of life for patients, which includes education on the importance of vaccinations."

DaVita also encourages anyone who has physical contact with a dialysis patient to receive a flu vaccination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the U.S. in January or February.

DaVita and DaVita HealthCare PartnersSM are trademarks or registered trademarks of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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

DaVita
Leslie Bartley, 303-876-7496
Leslie.Bartley@davita.com