DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 24, 2013-- DaVita®, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. (NYSE: DVA) and a leading provider of kidney care services, today announced study results showing that, on average, patients using its pharmacy, DaVita Rx®, are 21 percent more likely to live longer than patients who do not use DaVita Rx.

The study, recently published by the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, also found that dialysis patients who use DaVita Rx spent 14 percent fewer days in the hospital each year, which equates to 1.8 fewer hospital days per patient per year. The independent study was conducted by the Chronic Disease Research Group (CDRG), who analyzed the hospitalizations and mortality of more than 50,000 DaVita patients.

“We created DaVita Rx in 2005 because we knew it would make a difference in the lives of our patients,” said Kent Thiry, co-chairman and CEO of DaVita HealthCare Partners. “We have critically ill patients who often take more than 20 pills per day, prescribed by multiple physicians, in addition to hours of dialysis treatments. This study confirms our belief that a pharmacy program can improve mortality, clinical outcomes and quality of life.”

The CDRG obtained data for this study through the United States Renal Data System. The study’s control group was made of 43,013 DaVita patients using other pharmacies to receive their medications. The study group of 8,864 DaVita patients used the DaVita Rx pharmacy service over the 2.5 years between 2006 and 2008.

DaVita Rx is the world’s first and largest full-service pharmacy specializing in kidney care, serving a growing percentage of dialysis patients at DaVita and other dialysis providers. Suffering from end stage renal disease and often other chronic illnesses, these patients receive medications while dialyzing at their local dialysis center or at home. Patients also benefit from services including 24-hour access to specially-trained pharmacists, flexible payment options, refill reminders and insurance assistance.

For more information on DaVita, please visit www.DaVita.com. To learn more about DaVita Rx and this study, please visit www.DaVitaRx.com.

DaVita, DaVita Rx and DaVita HealthCare Partners are trademarks or registered trademarks of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. All other marks 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 Dec. 31, 2012, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 1,954 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 153,000 patients. The company also operated 36 outpatient dialysis centers located in eight 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.

About DaVita Rx

DaVita Rx is the first and largest full-service pharmacy created specifically for the unique needs of kidney patients. DaVita Rx makes it easier for patients to get their medications and follow their drug regimens with services such as 24-hour access to specially trained pharmacists, refill reminders, flexible payment options, and no-cost delivery. DaVita Rx also helps patients and providers navigate the changing health care laws and rules. For more information, please visit www.davitarx.com/.

Source: DaVita

DaVita
Bianca Violante, 303-876-6614
Bianca.violante@davita.com