DENVER, Apr 13, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA), a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), has been recognized as the only health care company and only member of the Fortune 500(R) to make the 2010 WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces(TM).

This marks the third consecutive year that DaVita(R) has been named to the list, which aims to promote democracy in the workplace. DaVita is one of only 44 companies recognized on the annual list sponsored by WorldBlu, an Austin-based non-profit specializing in organizational democracy.

"It is an honor to be named to the WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces for the third consecutive year," said Kent Thiry, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DaVita. "We consider DaVita a community first and a company second. This recognition reflects the two-way dialogue we strive to have with our 34,000 teammates around the country, whose hard work and dedication are improving the lives of people with kidney disease."

The list is determined primarily by an employee-based survey that evaluates the company's practice of 10 democratic principles, such as transparency, dialogue and listening, integrity, fairness and dignity, and accountability. WorldBlu developed the survey tool based on a decade of research into what makes a world-class democratic organization. They have found that companies that practice organizational democracy tend to have more-engaged employees, and to be more adaptive to change, more efficient and often more profitable than others. Gallup(R) has estimated the cost of disengaged employees within the U.S. workforce alone to be more than $300 billion in lost productivity.

This recognition is one of several DaVita has received in 2010, including:

• 2010 Electronic Recruiting Exchange (ERE) - DaVita was named winner of the 2010 Best Careers Website award by ERE.
• HDI Team Excellence Awards - DaVita's IT Services team received the Help Desk Institute's Internal Team Excellence award. HDI honors support organizations that have achieved the highest standards of excellence worldwide in delivering internal customer service and support.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News Top Workplaces 2010 - Teammates voted DaVita among the best employers in the Philadelphia region. DaVita ranked 12th among the 100 companies on the list.
• Debbie Benner, MA, RD, CSR, VP of DaVita Clinical Support, was named by Today's Dietitian as a 2010 Dedicated and Deserving Dietitian for Making a Difference in the Lives of Clients and Community. Benner also was among 10 dietitians featured in the annual National Nutrition Month edition of the magazine, based on readers' nominations.

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

About DaVita Inc.

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 December 31, 2009, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 1,530 outpatient dialysis facilities and acute units in approximately 720 hospitals, serving approximately 118,000 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 Inc.

DaVita Inc.
Jessica Joffe-Stein, 310-536-2465
Jessica.JoffeStein@davita.com