DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 28, 2012-- DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a leading provider of kidney care services that is committed to improving the quality of life for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), today thanks its nearly 1,500 social workers for the value and care they provide to patients and their families.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) designated March as National Social Work Month, recognizing March 16th as National Social Work Day and March 20th as World Social Work Day. NASW’s theme for 2012 is “social work matters.”

“The concept that ‘social work matters’ couldn’t be truer at DaVita; while dialysis extends our patients’ lives, our social workers help make sure our patients have quality of life,” explains Duane Dunn, director of social work services for DaVita®. “We value our social workers as critical resources for our patients.”

Social workers help patients adjust to life on dialysis. Teaching patients about kidney disease and their treatment options helps them understand what is happening to their bodies and make informed decisions about their care. A social worker educates and supports patients in these ways to help them enjoy a better quality of life.

Renal social work tasks include helping patients:

• Talk about their emotional needs and enhance their coping skills
• Learn about kidney disease and dialysis options
• Understand and navigate the kidney transplant process
• Strengthen their family and support system
• Adjust to treatment plans and diet changes
• Find community resources for transportation, home health services, nutrition and more
• Keep or obtain insurance

For more information on renal social workers, please visit the DaVita website Social Workers: Helping Patients at the Dialysis Center. Information on the National Association of Social Workers and its initiatives can be found at http://www.socialworkers.org/.

DaVita is a registered trademark of DaVita Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About DaVita

DaVita Inc., a Fortune 500® company, is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVitastrives 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, 2011, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 1,809 dialysis facilities in the United States, serving approximately 142,000 patients. The company also operated 11 outpatient dialysis centers located in three 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 www.davita.com.

Source: DaVita Inc.

DaVita Inc.
Bianca Violante, 303-405-2363
Bianca.Violante@DaVita.com