DENVER, May 10, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), today announced that the company exceeded its clinical goals for patient vaccination rates. The higher rate is a direct result of teammates' and physicians' education efforts with patients.

"Getting my flu and pneumonia vaccinations was the best decision I could have made," explains Ronnie Henderson, a dialysis patient at the DaVita East Aurora facility. "I know that as a dialysis patient I'm at a greater risk to contract and spread these types of illnesses so I need to protect my health in any way I can."

Based on the 2010 USRDS Annual Data Report (reporting claims-based data from 2008) the industry vaccination rates for influenza and pneumonia were 66.5 percent and 25.2 percent, respectively. Reporting from the same data, DaVita's influenza vaccination rate was at 72.9 percent and its pneumonia vaccination rate was 36.4 percent for 2008. At the end of the first quarter of 2011, DaVita(R) internal tracking shows that it has vaccinated 90.9 percent of its patients for influenza and 90.4 percent of its patients for pneumonia.

"Flu vaccinations can be the difference between life and death for those suffering from CKD," said DaVita Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen R. Nissenson. "A sneeze is just a symptom to a healthy person but for a dialysis patient, it can be the sign of a life-threatening infection."

Studies have shown that high vaccination rates relate directly to fewer hospitalizations, which can lead to a better quality of life for dialysis patients. Despite being challenged by an increase in number of patients since the beginning of this flu season, DaVita teammates and attending physicians, through a concerted effort, were able to achieve and maintain vaccination rates of 90 percent.

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About DaVita

DaVita Inc., a Fortune 500(R) company, is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services and education to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. As of March 31, 2011, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 1,642 dialysis facilities, serving approximately 128,000 patients. DaVita develops, participates in and donates to numerous programs dedicated to transforming communities and creating positive, sustainable change for children, families and our environment. The company's leadership development initiatives and corporate social responsibility efforts have been recognized by Fortune, Modern Healthcare,Newsweek and WorldBlu, among others. For more information, please visit www.davita.com.

SOURCE: DaVita

DaVita
Skip Thurman, 303-405-2296
Skip.Thurman@DaVita.com