DENVER, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita HealthCare Partners (NYSE: DVA), a leading independent medical group and a leading provider of kidney care services in the United States, today announced that the company has been certified as a "Freedom-Centered Workplace" by WorldBlu. This is the ninth consecutive year the company has been recognized on the list, formerly known as "most democratic" workplaces.

"We believe ourselves to be a community first and a company second," said Kent Thiry, chairman and CEO of DaVita.  "When you see the world through that lens, freedom-centered and citizenship-oriented behaviors flow naturally."

"DaVita operates like a Village, not like a large organization," said Casey Michalski Stock, corporate sustainability program manager for DaVita.  "I feel that my voice is not only heard on a local level with my direct team, but throughout the organization."

DaVita HealthCare Partners regularly seeks input from teammates on both small and large matters that impact the direction of the company. The company conducts "town halls" and "Voice of the Village" calls where teammates can hear directly from senior leaders and ask questions about the business, policies, strategic direction and more. Teammates also have opportunities to recognize one another for exemplifying the company's core values.

DaVita HealthCare Partners emphasizes collaboration and teamwork to deliver industry-leading care as reflected in two reports from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In the CMS Five-Star Rating System, DaVita Kidney Care outperformed major providers in the percentage of four- and five-star centers by two times. According to the CMS Quality Incentive Program, 98.6 percent of DaVita Kidney Care centers are rated in the top clinical performance tier. 

Organizations become eligible for a spot on the WorldBlu List of Most Freedom-Centered Workplaces™ after teammates complete The WorldBlu Freedom at Work™ Assessment, a survey evaluating their practice of the WorldBlu 10 Principles of Organizational Democracy™. The assessment was developed based on a decade of research into what makes a successful freedom-centered company. Organizations from the for-profit and non-profit sectors that have been in operation for at least one full year and have five or more employees can apply for the certification.

Learn more about DaVita HealthCare Partners' award-winning culture at DaVita.com/CSR.

About DaVita Kidney Care

DaVita Kidney Care is a 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 dialysis services in the United States, DaVita Kidney Care treats patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita Kidney Care 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 March 31, 2016, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,278 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 180,000 patients. The company also operated 124 outpatient dialysis centers located in 10 countries outside the United States. DaVita Kidney Care 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 HealthCare Partners

DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., a Fortune 500® company, is the parent company of DaVita Kidney Care and HealthCare Partners. DaVita Kidney Care 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. As of March 31, 2016, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,278 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 180,000 patients. The company also operated 124 outpatient dialysis centers located in 10 countries outside the United States. HealthCare Partners manages and operates medical groups and affiliated physician networks in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Florida, Colorado and Washington in its pursuit to deliver excellent-quality health care in a dignified and compassionate manner. As of March 31, 2016 HealthCare Partners provided integrated care management for approximately 790,000 patients. For more information, please visit DaVitaHealthCarePartners.com.

Contact Information

Media:
Caitlyn Shuket
(303) 876-7547
Caitlyn.Shuket@davita.com

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SOURCE DaVita HealthCare Partners