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Facilities Lead Delaware in Improving Kidney Patient Care
October 15, 2009
DaVita has been recognized in the state of Delaware for reaching the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network’s patient quality improvement goal for arterial venous fistula (AVF) usage. DaVita® strives to maximize the well-being and health of dialysis patients in Delaware by promoting increased use of fistulas, thereby minimizing the risk of complications.
ESRD Network 4 monitors dialysis facilities in Delaware and recognizes those clinics that have reached or are nearing a target fistula usage rate of 50 percent or greater. The most recent data from Network 4 shows that DaVita’s two dialysis facilities in Delaware, both of which are located in Wilmington, consistently surpassed the national target AVF utilization rate of 66 percent. DaVita’s Newport Dialysis Facility is ranked first among Delaware’s 20 dialysis facilities with an AVF use rate of 80.52 percent, which is approximately 23 percent better than the national target of 66 percent.
The data is also noteworthy because fistula use is one of four key Clinical Performance Measures of Quality established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). With its commitment to following these measures and striving for excellence, DaVita achieves clinical outcomes that are consistently the best or among the best in the industry.
To read the full press release, click here.
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Only Kidney Care Company in NEWSWEEK's Inagural Green Rankings
September 30, 2009
DaVita has been named the only kidney care services provider on the inaugural “NEWSWEEK Green Rankings” list of the greenest companies in America.
For more than a year, NEWSWEEK® worked with leading environmental researchers to rank the 500 largest U.S. companies based on their sustainability. DaVita® ranked No. 104 on the Environmental Reputation Score and No. 142 on the Environmental Impact Score.
“DaVita has made a holistic commitment to caring for our patients, teammates and the world – and balancing our business goals with our environmental and social ones is a big part of what we do,” said Kent Thiry, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DaVita. “We will continue to look for new and unique opportunities to implement practices that reduce the environmental impact of our clinics and business offices in the communities we serve.”
To read the press release, click here.
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3rd Annual Tour for Kidney Awareness Kicks Off!
September 18, 2009
DaVita Inc. will join nearly 400 teammates (employees), family members and friends from around the country in Greenville, Michigan, this weekend to kick off the third annual Tour DaVita™ - a three-day, 250-mile bike ride to raise awareness and funds for the fight against kidney disease.
By the end of the 2009 ride, nearly 800 DaVita teammates, physicians, family members and friends will have participated in the three annual Tour DaVita events – riding approximately 600,000 miles collectively and raising more than $1,600,000.
“We are thrilled to bring the Tour DaVita to Michigan this year," said DaVita Chairman and CEO, Kent Thiry, who will also be participating in the ride. "This event is incredibly important to all of our teammates, patients and their family members because it reminds us of our commitment and relentless dedication to educating communities about kidney disease. Many of this year's riders have worked incredibly hard both training and fundraising for this cause, and I’m honored to be a part of it with them.”
To read the press release, click here.
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Kidney Awareness Run/Walks Launch Nationwide
September 11, 2009
The Run/Walks will take place in Denver, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Sacramento, Long Beach, Ft. Worth, Virginia Beach and Washington D.C.
A silent epidemic, CKD affects one in nine Americans, totaling around 26 million adults, with 90 percent unaware they are suffering from it. The chance that an American adult has CKD is almost as high as an American woman’s risk of getting breast cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognize CKD as a major public health problem that reduces the quality and length of life. Beyond raising awareness around CKD, the free kidney screening and other services offered during the events aim to delay or prevent people from experiencing kidney failure and having to undergo dialysis.
The DaVita Kidney Awareness Run/Walks will feature kidney health screenings at no cost, entertainment and games for the entire family, as well as a kidney health expo to promote awareness of CKD. Participants will be given the tools to educate their community about the importance of early testing.
To read the press release, click here.
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More Choices for Student Patients Who Need Dialysis
September 09, 2009
Victor Tlatelpa, 16, is not your everyday student at Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, Calif. – between busy hours of classes and homework he has been dialyzing since May 2008 at DaVita’s UCLA Dialysis Center in Westwood. During his treatments three days a week (two of which are school days), he spends time studying and even receives encouragement from DaVita® teammates (employees). And in between, he still finds time to play goalie on his friends’ soccer team.
“I feel lucky to be able to play soccer,” said Victor. “At the beginning of my treatment, I thought I would be in the hospital forever and I worried that I would not be able to play anymore. Now I live a normal life.” At age 62, Darryl Kim of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., has overcome multiple challenges while pursuing his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Loma Linda University – two kidney transplants, open-heart surgery and a below-the-knee amputation. Originally an in-center hemodialysis patient, he received the help of DaVita clinicians, nurses and technicians switching to nocturnal dialysis and now has the energy to pursue his ambitious educational and career plans.
In 2008, Darryl earned his doctorate and is now working towards completing his clinical hours to receive a state license to open his own private practice. “I would never have been able to succeed without the different options DaVita provided me,” said Darryl. “While they [DaVita teammates] couldn’t help me as I wrote more than 11 drafts of my dissertation, they sure could cheer me on to keep fighting.”
To read the press release, click here.
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Mobile dialysis improves patients' health, survival rates
September 06, 2009
When Darrell Polletta woke up one morning, he noticed his ankles were swollen. Not thinking much of it, he took some Benadryl and left his Hobart home for work. The next day, the swelling was worse. "I pushed (the skin) in, and it was like Silly Putty," Polletta said. "I thought, 'That ain't right.'"
Doctors diagnosed Polletta, then 35, with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a rare disorder that causes kidney failure. The active motorcyclist and father of three was sidelined as he underwent a variety of treatments, including a kidney transplant, to keep him alive.
Polletta said the transplant did not help him as much as he had hoped. It got to a point where he no longer could leave the house. "I was like, I can't live like this," Polletta said. "I'd rather be on the (dialysis) machine. I said take (the kidney) out."
About 15 years after his diagnosis, the 49-year-old pumps his blood at home through a device the size of a small refrigerator. The technology, called the NxStage System One, is a portable dialysis machine. Traditionally, patients with kidney failure visit a dialysis center three times a week, but the NxStage System One can be used at home and even taken on airplanes.
"You have a more empowered patient, you have a more motivated patient that feels better, and you have a patient who usually requires less medication than you would with the conventional type of treatment."
Polletta said he feels the difference. "My blood pressure is perfect. My calcium deposits went away," he said. "Two years ago, they were telling me I wouldn't be able to walk." A few weeks ago, Polletta bought a new chrome and black Harley-Davidson. "It's a little victory, but it's nice when I can get out and ride," Polletta said, his mustache turning upward in a smile.
To read the full article, click here.
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Dialysis While Patients Sleep
August 27, 2009
DaVita announced today that its nocturnal dialysis patient population has reached a milestone, with 1,000 patients having received this life-saving treatment in more than 90 DaVita® centers around the nation. DaVita has one of the largest nocturnal patient populations in the country.
Introduced at DaVita in July 2004, nocturnal dialysis is a form of treatment that allows patients to dialyze in-clinic while sleeping overnight – offering kidney care patients the freedom to receive renal replacement therapy while still maintaining a full and active schedule by day, even allowing patients to continue working.
“DaVita continues to improve care by moving toward a patient-centric approach to modality offerings, which pairs patients with the right modality for their medical needs and social circumstances,” said Allen R. Nissenson MD, DaVita’s Chief Medical Officer. “DaVita’s nocturnal program is an integral part of this approach that continues to grow and better our patients’ lives.”
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Three Abstracts Presented for Peritoneal Dialysis
August 26, 2009
DaVita, in conjunction with DaVita Clinical Research®, today announced that it will present three abstracts at the 3rd North American Chapter meeting of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) on August 27-29 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
ISPD provides leading renal health care providers with the opportunity to advance their knowledge of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and to promote advancement of such knowledge through international meetings and scientific publications.
The presentations will highlight subjects critical to physicians, nurses and other practitioners in the field of PD, including:
- A DaVita® pilot program evaluating ESA use in PD patients and how to ensure patient adherence while maintaining hemoglobin outcomes
- Access to Peritoneal Dialysis: Overcoming Obstacles for Uninsured, Unencountered Patients – a look at how changes in PD clinic infrastructure and the industry’s perception and would increase usage of this valuable treatment method
- The Post-Peritonitis Checklist: Beyond Pharmacological Treatment – an analysis of the impact
implementing a step-by-step checklist of pre-existing and innovative interventions into patient care practices resulted in reduced peritonitis rates
To read the press release, click here.
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Leading Colorado in Improving Patient Care
August 19, 2009
DaVita is leading Colorado in promoting the well-being and health of patients requiring hemodialysis by increasing the use of arterial venous fistulas (AVFs) and decreasing their risks of complications.
The Fistula First mission is to make sure that every eligible ESRD or CKD patient receives his/her optimal form of vascular access (in the majority of cases, AVF) for hemodialysis treatment and to avoid complications through appropriate monitoring and intervention.
Newly released data from the ESRD networks shows that 21 DaVita® facilities in Colorado achieved the recommended AVF use rate, accounting for two-thirds of the facilities that reached the goal. DaVita also accounted for three-quarters of the top 20 facilities in Colorado that attained the target AVF use rate.
The data is also noteworthy because fistula use is one of CMS’ Clinical Performance Measures (CPMs) or national evidence-based performance standards of quality. With its commitment to follow these measures and strive for excellence, DaVita’s clinical outcomes are consistently superior in the industry.
“At DaVita, our highest priority is optimizing the health of the more than 116,000 patients cared for by our professional partners and teammates,” said Allen R. Nissenson, Chief Medical Officer of DaVita. “We’re pleased that this commitment has once again been validated by CMS’s Fistula First findings.”
To read the press release, click here.
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Only Dialysis Provider on EPA's FORTUNE 500 List
August 03, 2009
DaVita has been ranked 39th on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) FORTUNE 500 List as one of the largest green power purchasers. DaVita® stands as the only dialysis provider among the five healthcare companies featured on the list, having purchased more than 10 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually - enough to meet 100 percent of the company’s electricity use.
According to the EPA, green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable
renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. These resources generate electricity with a net zero increase in carbon dioxide emissions. As a purchaser of green power, DaVita is committed to superior environmental choices compared to companies who utilize traditional power generation sources.
This commitment to green business and carbon footprint management is part of the DaVita Village Green, a program designed to reduce the environmental impact of the company’s business practices. DaVita Village Green is dedicated to providing education to clinical facilities and business offices on the fundamentals of conservation, identifying ways to reduce DaVita’s carbon footprint and pursuing green supply purchasing options.
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Workplace Democracy at DaVita, an Interview with Lisa Joins
August 03, 2009
WorkplaceDemocracy.com spoke with Lisa Joins to get an inside look at one of the nation’s largest and most successful democratic companies. Joins is a director of people services at DaVita.
Can you talk a little about DaVita’s history and how the workplace democracy idea began?
The idea of workplace democracy began when DaVita was formed in June 2000. Kent Thiry, our CEO, saw that the company was in need of a different level of leadership with the team concept as its driving force, so he decided to make the company culture one of the areas of priority. He made a concerted effort to ensure that everyone had a voice promoting full buy-in to our new strategy and direction.
How does democracy work at DaVita?
Each local area of the company is managed independently by its local leadership team. And it is that team’s responsibility to be creative to meet and maintain the company’s strategic goals. Each area gets to decide on how to best achieve its goals according to their local market.
Another example is our profit-sharing program, which is given on a regular basis multiple times per year. At many other companies, the top managers determine the specifics of their profit-sharing programs. At DaVita, each leadership group together with the help of their local teams chooses their goals of measurement. These goals are used as the key factors for measuring the success of the team and profit-sharing payouts are tied to those accomplishments.
There is a village atmosphere here at DaVita which helps people feel as though they are part of a community and less like they are part of a large company full of “red tape”. Local teams are given the opportunity to name themselves and create identities.
What is it like to work at DaVita?
It’s the best company I’ve worked for. DaVita is a fun, energetic company that stresses collaboration and a team-based environment. The company offers tremendous opportunities to its teammates for growth and development. This is the first company that I’ve had the opportunity to work for where the culture resonates throughout all facets of the organization.
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Life-Saving Diaylsis Facility Opens in the Philippines
July 10, 2009
Kidney disease is the 7th leading cause of death among Filipinos. Unfortunately, proper treatment is difficult due to lack of access to hospitals that can provide dialysis and the unaffordable cost of treatment. By partnering with the local government to open the facility in San Carlos, Bridge of Life – DaVita Medical Missions™ hopes to make treatment much more accessible.
“Accessibility to kidney care is one of the main problems for the San Carlos community,” said Ginny Mello, Executive Director for the Bridge of Life – DaVita Medical Missions program. “There have been no dialysis facilities in the area until now, and we are pleased to partner with the Governor to help create a healthier, more vibrant community.”
Volunteers for the Bridge of Life worked to create the facility’s design, offered expert advice on construction requirements, developed training material for local clinicians and partnered with local vendors to design and install the essential water system. Featuring 12 dialysis stations and a highly-skilled clinical team, the new facility treated its first patient, Virginia Rosario, at noon today local time.
To read the full press release, click here.
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DaVita Opens 1,500th Outpatient Kidney Care Clinic in the US
June 25, 2009
“DaVita’s 1,500th kidney Dialysis center is an important milestone in our ongoing effort to become the greatest kidney care company the world has ever seen,” said Dennis Kogod, Chief Operating Officer of DaVita®. “We are pleased to announce that the Gulf Shores, Alabama, clinic will hold the distinction of being number 1,500.”
The Gulf Shores center is a state-of-the-art facility providing in-clinic and at-home hemodialysis, as well peritoneal dialysis. The facility currently provides care to 19 kidney care patients in the region, as well as a substantial number of traveling dialysis patients. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house will be held on July 16, 2009, with Alabama State Rep. Greg Wren expected to attend.
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First Corporate Social Responsibility Report Launched
June 19, 2009
DaVita’s Community Care Report provides the first comprehensive review of the company’s broad philanthropic, community and social efforts. The report draws on the programs developed by DaVita and its teammates to enrich the lives of the community’s members. Each of the programs fall into one of three categories that comprise the company’s “Trilogy of Care” - caring for DaVita’s patients, caring for DaVita’s teammates, and caring for the world.
“In a true and healthy community, people care about each other with distinctive consistency and intensity. In a true and healthy community, people also care about the community itself and its sustainability. In a true and healthy community, the community itself provides both opportunities for and safety nets to its citizens, which helps them to realize their full potential while protecting them from unforeseen difficulties. These are the things we strive to do at DaVita,” said Kent Thiry, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DaVita.
To read the press release and view some of the report highlights, click here.
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DaVita Named One of the Best Companies to Work for in Colorado
June 18, 2009
“We are pleased to be recognized for our continued efforts to make DaVita among the best places for our teammates to work, especially in our new corporate home of Colorado," said Kent Thiry, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DaVita. "We know that Colorado is a wonderful place to live and work, and so being recognized with this award only reminds us that our decision was the right one."
Now in its fourth year, the Best Companies to Work for in Colorado program is a statewide initiative dedicated to finding and recognizing Colorado’s best employers. DaVita was named to the list in the “Large Companies” category, which is open to hundreds of Colorado businesses with 250 or more employees. The company has more than 2,000 teammates (employees) statewide.
To read the press release, click here.
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First FORTUNE 500 Healthcare Services Company to Join the EPA Green Power Partnership
May 12, 2009
Through the program, DaVita will offset 10,000,000 kilowatts of energy - enough to power DaVita's six largest corporate business offices for an entire year - through the utlization of renewable wind energy. The offset is the equivalent of removing 1,315 passenger vehicles from the road, or reducing the strain placed on local power grids by the amount of power consumed by approximately 1,000 American homes.
This commitment to green business and carbon footprint managment is part of DaVita Village Green, a program designed to reduce the environmental impact of the company's business practices.
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