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Dialysis rivals target suburban expansions
February 08, 2012
Competing dialysis providers DaVita Inc. and a subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care A.G. want to continue their push into Chicago’s suburbs. Denver-based DaVita recently filed applications with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board to add six stations to a 14-station clinic it operates in northwest suburban Schaumburg and replace an 18-station facility at 1715 Central St. in Evanston with a 20-station clinic about 2.4 miles to the south, at 1922 Dempster St. DaVita, which proposes to spend $3.9 million on both projects, said the Schaumburg clinic is at maximum capacity, while the current Evanston location on Central is in need of substantial renovation and only offers four parking spots.
Fresenius, with U.S. headquarters in Waltham, Mass., has asked for permission to spend $3.5 million to scale back a 32-station clinic in southwest suburban Crestwood and open a new, 12-station facility 4½ miles away in Oak Forest. “We believe this proposal to realign our services to meet our patients’ needs in the southwest suburban region is very consistent with the board’s rules,” a spokesman for Fresenius said in an emailed statement.
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Blue Star Mothers receive donation
February 07, 2012
The Houston Area chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America (BSMA) received a sizable donation at their monthly meeting Jan. 24 at the American Legion Hall in Humble.
Two representatives of DaVita, a leading provider of dialysis services in the U.S., took the podium to present a $3,000 check to BSMA co-presidents Karen McSpadden and Rachel Morales.
The contribution will help BSMA continue providing love and support to the country’s troops. BSMA relies solely on private donations and volunteers to operate. Its members meet on a regular basis to assemble and mail “care packages” to active service personnel around the world. BSMA attempts to keep track of all the birthdays of active service personnel and send them birthday cards.
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Davita Dialysis Group donates
February 06, 2012
Today, representatives of the Davita Dialysis Group's Hartford area facilities stopped by with a donation of $2,000 and 160 pounds of food that their employees had collected. As Cheryl Craven explained to me, many of their patients rely on the food pantry at St. Francis Hospital and they knew that the pantry relies on Foodshare for most of its food, so they decided to direct their charitable efforts to Foodshare.
After the check presentation, with (l-r) Lynn Decker, Jean Carosella, Cheryl Craven, and me, I has happy to give them a tour of Foodshare's distribution facility so they could see just how much difference their gift would make!
Thank you everyone at Davita!
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DaVita donates to Blessed Bottoms to Collect Diapers
February 06, 2012
The charity was started by a FishHawk Ranch mom intent on collecting diapers for moms too poor to purchase them for their babies.
Unlike formula and baby food, the cost of diapers aren't covered by Food Stamps and WIC, a program that provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods for low-income pregnant and postpartum women as well as their infants and children up to age 5.
Blessed Bottoms recently received a $1,000 donation from the DaVita Dialysis Center.
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DaVita joins MSEP
February 06, 2012
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New Reserach Center in Lakewood, Colorado
February 06, 2012
New DaVita research center located at St. Anthony's hospital is the focus and will bring 58 new jobs. For video, Click Here.
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DaVita acquires Sterling dialysis center
February 03, 2012
The dialysis center in Sterling is under new ownership. On Feb. 1, DaVita, a leading provider of kidney care, aqcuired the center from Banner Health.
After a careful analysis of Sterling Regional MedCenter's (SRM) scope of services, a business decision was made to actively pursue a company with specific expertise in the delivery of dialysis services in order to continue to provide this service to the patients in our region.
"We are very excited for this opportunity to partner with a nationally recognized dialysis provider," said Michelle Joy, CEO at Sterling Regional MedCenter. "DaVita's strength and expertise in dialysis treatment will further enhance the excellent patient care currently being provided to our patients. Patients will continue to see the same physicians, nurses, and techs as many will continue to work in the dialysis center with DaVita."
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Planning commission OKs site for Dialysis center in Hartsville
February 03, 2012
The Hartsville Planning Commission approved a proposed site plan for a new kidney dialysis center at its monthly meeting Tuesday.
Hartsville Dialysis Center will be built on South Fourth Street on a parcel of property next to the former Blockbuster Video building. Palestra Real Estate Partners Inc., which acquired the 0.97-acre tract, plans to build the new facility on the north side of the old Blockbuster building.
The property is located in what is designated by the city as a planned unit development and is zoned for such use. The planned development zoning district allows greater flexibility for building setbacks. Most of the standards for planned development districts are consistent with the city’s requirements for B3 or business zoning.
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The Leaf-Chronicle salutes those who are making our community and our world a better place in which to live.
February 03, 2012
Cheers to DaVita Clarksville and DaVita Clarksville North, which presented the Salvation Army with a $2,000 check as part of the company’s local charitable giving initiative, which distributed nearly $1 million to help non-profit organizations throughout the United States.
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DaVita Promotes Super Bowl XLVI Finger Foods for the Kidney Diet
February 02, 2012
DaVita offers kidney patients a chance to enjoy delicious Super Bowl® Sunday treats with kidney-friendly recipes. Recipes are available online on DaVita’s special occasion diet and nutrition page.
While celebrations and party food temptations can be difficult for anyone following a special diet, they pose an even greater challenge for those with CKD. CKD patients must modify their protein, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and fluid intake, which can be complicated to monitor during snack-filled events such as Super Bowl parties.
“Super Bowl Sunday is very much about the food,” said DaVita Dietitian Sara Colman. “These Super Bowl recipes are designed to meet the unique dietary and nutritional needs of CKD patients and are tasty enough for everyone to enjoy.”
DaVita® offers kidney patients recipes that are protein-modified, low-phosphorus, low-potassium and low-sodium. Kidney-friendly football favorites include Hot Crab Dip; Pineapple, Pork and Pepper Pizza; Artichoke Relish on Pita Bread; and Honey-Maple Snack Mix.
To wash down those tasty snacks, DaVita dietitians recommend kidney-friendly beverages such as 7UP®, Sprite®, ginger ale or Barq’s® root beer. Coffee and tea are also good choices. Avoid beer, however, as it is high in phosphorus.
For a full list of Super Bowl recipes and other kidney-friendly options, visit DaVita’s Super Bowl XLVI’s recipes page on DaVita.com.
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Kidney Friendly Recipes
February 02, 2012
Now you can enjoy Chinese restaurant-style dinner at home thanks to DaVita dietitian Trisha and her kidney-friendly version of Broccoli and Beef Stir-Fry.
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Bloomberg Businessweek's Ranking of Top-Performing Companies
February 01, 2012
DaVita ranked 46th out of 50 in Bloomberg Businessweek’s ranking of Top-Performing Companies. Click Here for ranking information.
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Little Wish receives $2,000 donation from DaVita Dialysis
February 01, 2012
The Little Wish Foundation, a Michigan City organization that grants about 10 wishes a month to patients at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, received a $2,000 charitable donation on behalf of DaVita Dialysis, a nationwide organization centered on treating kidney failures.
According to Sharon White, facility administrator for the Michigan City DaVita location, when corporate leaders for the company said they were planning on donating to a charity, Little Wish seemed a perfect suggestion.
“I think what Little Wish does is wonderful,” White said, noting it was the idea of Holly Ganschow, a patient care technician, to suggest the local foundation.
“We volunteered for the hog roast (an event with proceeds donated to Little Wish), so we knew what the Little Wish does and thought it would be a good idea,” Ganschow said.
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Paladina Health Opens Innovative Primary Care Clinic in Tacoma
February 01, 2012
Paladina Health, LLC., a direct primary care health services management company, today announced the opening of its affiliated Tacoma clinic at 1250 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma. The clinic is the first of a network of clinics the company plans to build throughout Puget Sound.
“The recent acquisition of ModernMed and the opening of our Tacoma clinic have us well on our way to achieving that vision.”
Paladina Health’sTM innovative model of care is built to deliver a concierge-like service experience, improve patients’ health and reduce the total cost of healthcare for both employers and individuals. This is achieved by:
The Paladina Health clinic offers a new and different benefit option for employers in the Puget Sound area – one that helps employees stay healthy, reduces costs and increases productivity. Moreover, employers can subscribe to the Tacoma clinic or work with Paladina Health to develop a new clinic within or near their work site.
The clinic is also available to individuals who want to purchase a membership directly.
“Patients have the right to expect more from their health care experience,” said Dr. David Cameron, a physician at Paladina Health. “At our Tacoma clinic, patients will receive more personalized care, more comprehensive visits and easier access to their care team.”
Paladina Health recently announced the acquisition of Wisconsin-based ModernMed®, bringing the company’s direct primary care model to 26 physician practices and clinics. Eight to ten more clinics are planned for the Puget Sound area over the next few years.
“Our vision at Paladina Health is to change the way health care is provided in the U.S.,” said Misha Palecek, president of Paladina Health. “The recent acquisition of ModernMed and the opening of our Tacoma clinic have us well on our way to achieving that vision.”
Paladina Health and the Paladina Health logo are trademarks of Paladina Health, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About Paladina Health
Paladina Health’s mission is to provide unbiased advocacy for patients and employers in their quest to improve access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. Paladina Health strives to redefine employer-provided healthcare in the United States. More information is available at www.PaladinaHealth.com.
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DaVita will open primary care clinic
January 31, 2012
Downtown Tacoma’s largest employer will open a new business prototype this week on Pacific Avenue.
Kidney dialysis leader DaVita Inc. will open its first primary care clinic Wednesday. Denver-based DaVita is expanding into primary care through its subsidiary, Paladina Health.
The Tacoma clinic at 1250 Pacific Ave., which will open a month ahead of schedule, is Paladina’s first. The company also is growing through acquisitions, evidenced by its purchase earlier this month of Modern Med, a Wisconsin-based clinic group.
“We had a lot of hard work and a little extra money” to finish early in Tacoma, Rebecca Steinfort, a DaVita vice president, said Monday. “We’re ready to try it out.”
Paladina is the second clinic in Tacoma to offer primary care without involving insurance companies. Qliance, a Seattle-based company, opened a clinic last fall at 2420 S. Union Ave., near Allenmore Hospital.
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$8K donation made for Three Square Food Bank
January 30, 2012
DaVita is presenting an $8,000 check to Three Square Food Bank Monday.
The donation will take place at 10 a.m. at Three Square Food Bank near Pecos and Craig roads.
The check presentation is part of DaVita Inc's nationwide initiative to give one million dollars to local charities.
Each recipient is selected by local teammates rather than company executives.
DaVita Inc. is a Fortune 500 company which is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States.
Three Square is Southern Nevada's only food bank which provides assistance for Clark, Lincoln, Nye and Esmeralda County.
The food bank provides more than 22 million pounds of groceries and meals for people in need every year.
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County nursing home inks lease with dialysis provider
January 30, 2012
Commissioners have agreed to lease space at the Ashtabula County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to Total Renal Care, a DaVita dialysis service.
The board voted last week to approve the 96-month lease. County Administrator Janet Discher said the lease is for 2,300 square feet at the entrance area of the Kingsville Township nursing home that is owned by the county and managed by Generations Healthcare Management.
Discher said the space was previously used as a daycare that was opened to serve the young children of nursing home employees. In practice, however, few employees used the amenity.
Although the daycare usually ran at capacity, it was not producing revenue for the nursing home. When the lease ran out in 2011, commissioners decided to end the arrangement.
Commissioners have been meeting with Total Care for about a year to discuss leasing the space.
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Denver's Springtime Marathon Announces a Run Through Mile High Stadium
January 30, 2012
Epic stadium run-through - seven miles of water on the urban marathon course - and a new 10 mile race. The Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon, Half Marathon & Marathon Relay is Denver's springtime marathon and has lots of new features for 2012. Get ready for the ultimate urban tour of Denver, Aurora and Lakewood on Sunday, May 20, 2012.
Highlights for 2012 event:
The 7th edition - a Boston Marathon qualifier - begins and ends in Denver's City Park. The Urban 10 Miler course starts at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, follows the final miles of the marathon course, including a run through Mile High Stadium and ends in City Park.
"Every year, we strive to keep the marathon course fun," said Race Director Creigh Kelley. "This marathon course doesn't just stay on Colfax. It's truly an urban course, taking runners through the streets of our city, and giving them access to great landmarks like Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium."
The race welcomes local charities to participate in the DaVita Charity Partners program, where nonprofits recruit runners to raise funds for their cause. In 2011, 73 charities participated, making the Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon the fourth largest charity program in the country.
"Our race mission is to encourage a healthy and fit community, and provide a distance for everyone," said Andrea Dowdy, Executive Director of the race for the third year. "In our seven years, we've seen a lot of great changes along the Colfax corridor, and we want the course to reflect that vibrant, caring community spirit."
"The Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon supports our mission to improve the health of the communities we serve. We are thrilled to be the title sponsor of this great event again this year and we want to encourage folks to take part in the fun," said Jandel Allen-Davis, MD, Kaiser Permanente Vice President of Government and External Relations.
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Eco-devo panel OKs incentives for DaVita research center in Lakewood
January 30, 2012
Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) members voted Monday to approve nearly $120,000 in incentives for DaVita Inc. to build a research facility in Lakewood for which it plans to hire 58 employees.
The vote follows the dialysis center operator’s confirmation last week that it has chosen the St. Anthony Hospital campus as the location for its second U.S. research center.
The center, which will go in one of two medical office plazas under construction on the campus, is expected to employ high-paying executives and medical professionals.
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Mayor unveils economic plan designed to make Denver a "world-class city"
January 30, 2012
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock today unveiled a one-year strategic economic development plan designed to "create world-class opportunities" for Denver's businesses, residents and neighborhoods.
The plan, called "JumpStart 2012," "clearly outlines major steps the Denver Office of Economic Development will make to build business development, lending and investment in our community, and talent development for a world-class workforce," the mayor said in a message introducing the report.
Hancock has identified economic development as a top priority for the city since his first day in office, he said in the message.
"It's critical for us to have a laser-sharp focus on building Denver's business climate, to advance economic prosperity for the city of Denver, its businesses, neighborhoods and residents," said Hancock.
Paul Washington , executive director of the Denver Office of Economic Development, said in the report that OED will undertake seven strategic initiatives under the one-year JumpStart 2012 plan.
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DaVita donates $2,000 to Salvation Army
January 29, 2012
On Jan. 20, DaVita Clarksville and DaVita Clarksville North presented the Salvation Army with a $2,000 check as part of the company’s local charitable giving initiative, which distributed nearly $1 million to help non-profit organizations throughout the United States grow and thrive.
The Salvation Army is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization known for its thrift stores and charity work. The Salvation Army of Clarksville provides emergency shelter and food assistance at its center on Kraft Street.
The DaVita facilities chose to donate to the Salvation Army because of its long history of dedicated service to helping those in the Clarksville community by addressing both physical and spiritual needs.
“DaVita Clarksville and DaVita Clarksville North are proud to live our mission and values by giving back to the community,” said Carol McAdoo, DaVita facility administrator. “The Salvation Army contributes so much good to the Clarksville area and we’re proud to partner with such a deserving organization.”
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DaVita readies new research center in Lakewood, plans to increase staff
January 27, 2012
DaVita Inc. will open a research center on the St. Anthony Central Hospital campus in Lakewood later this year and expects to hire 58 executive and medical professionals for it, company officials said.
The Denver-based kidney dialysis center operator (NYSE: DVA) announced in November that it planned to bring about 200 jobs to the Denver metro area by opening a new call center and research center here, but didn’t specify locations.
The research center, scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2012, will be located in one of the two new medical office plazas that St. Anthony is building.
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"DaVita Way of Giving"
January 26, 2012
DaVita Way Of Giving: Nikki Odlivak, president and CEO of CASC, second from right, accepted the "DaVita Way of Giving" donation from the Richmond Kidney Center at the CASC Offices, St. George. From left: Philip Varughese, facility administrator, Richmond Kidney Center; Marianne Bury, social worker, Richmond Kidney Center; Ms. Odlivak, and Paula Todman, social worker, Richmond Kidney Center.
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City prevailed despite tough 2011, mayor says
January 26, 2012
It was quite bumpy, but according to Mayor David Gillock, North Ridgeville was able to pull through 2011, thanks to union concessions and keeping close tabs on finances after losses in state funding and other road blocks.
Gillock gave his ninth State of the City Address Jan. 19 at the North Ridgeville Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event. He said 2011 was tough, as it began with union contract negotiations and reductions in local government funding.
2011 Highlights
In his address, the mayor mentioned several other 2011 projects that were successful, as well as projects anticipated for 2012. They included:
- DaVita Dialysis opened two locations in North Ridgeville; a large solar panel installation at Lake Ridge Academy.
- The Quasar Project broke ground at French Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant, which will ultimately generate power by capturing methane, and which may one day fuel city vehicles.
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DaVita donates to T.J. and Friends
January 26, 2012
DaVita Washington Dialysis presents a $2,000 check to T.J. and Friends Foundation. On hand for the presentation were (l-r) Dr. B.N. Kuppuswamy, DaVita medical director; William Johnson, T.J. and Friends board member; Darren Scarborough, T.J. and Friends board member; Blake Thompson, T.J.
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Unite Way Campaign Has Reached 79% of Goal
January 26, 2012
The United Way campaign for 2011-2012 has reached 79 percent of the $500,000 goal.
Pat DeMonte, executive director of the Tiffin-Seneca United Way, said that while the figure is slightly below last year at this time, she is not discouraged.
"I think the economy has certainly played a part in the slower response, but we hope we have been able to reach as many people as possible," she said. "The community once again has been generous in their efforts, and we were pleased to be able to get into some new companies this year where we could talk to their employees, and have gotten some surprise donations from companies who have never given this year."
DeMonte said this year's contributions from some corporations and employees have been up, and eight divisions already have given above goals set by the campaign, with many others nearing completion.
DeMonte said she expects donations from some local and out-of-county foundations to be coming in soon. In addition, DaVita Dialysis Clinics - which include Wauseon Dialysis, Toledo Dialysis, Seneca Dialysis, Sandusky Dialysis, Point Place Dialysis and Northwood Dialysis - are to present the organization $7,000 Friday morning.
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DaVita acquires controlling interest in Bangalore company
January 25, 2012
Denver-based DaVita said today that it has acquired controlling interest in NephroLife, a Bangalore-based kidney care company.
DaVita had previously held a minority investment in NephroLife. Financial terms weren't disclosed.
"DaVita NephroLife is a strong cultural fit with DaVita," said DaVita chief executive Kent Thiry. "While it will take time for this venture to realize returns, this is a logical, long-term opportunity."
NephroLife operates nine clinics in India, offering a range of nephrology care including dialysis and vascular surgery.
"India represents a positive, long-term opportunity with transformational growth in the health care arena," said Atul Mathur, DaVita's president for the Asia-Pacific region.
The Bangalore business will now be called DaVita NephroLife.
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DaVita acquires controlling stake in India’s NephroLife as overseas push continues
January 25, 2012
DaVita Inc. said Wednesday it has acquired a controlling interest in NephroLife, a kidney care company based in Bangalore, India.
It’s part of a continuing push by the Denver-based kidney-care company to expand its global reach through overseas acquisitions.
DaVita previously held a minority stake in NephroLife, which operates nine clinics in India. The business will now be called DaVita NephroLife.
“DaVita NephroLife is a strong cultural fit with DaVita,” Kent Thiry, DaVita’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “While it will take time for this venture to realize returns, this is a logical, long-term opportunity.”
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DaVita Acquires Majority Stake in NephroLife India
January 25, 2012
DaVita announced it has acquired controlling interest in NephroLife, a leading Bangalore-based kidney care company. DaVita® had previously announced making a minority investment in the company. Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“DaVita NephroLife is a strong cultural fit with DaVita,” said DaVita Chairman and CEO Kent Thiry. “While it will take time for this venture to realize returns, this is a logical, long-term opportunity.”
“This is a unique opportunity in a region where DaVita has focused its attention,” said Dennis Kogod, DaVita Chief Operating Officer. “We will continue that focus in India and other areas in the Asia-Pacific region.”
NephroLife currently operates nine clinics in India, offering a range of nephrology care including dialysis and vascular surgery.
“India represents a positive, long-term opportunity with transformational growth in the health care arena,” said Atul Mathur, DaVita’s president for the Asia-Pacific region.
As a leading provider of kidney care services in the United States, DaVita has achieved clinical outcomes that have improved year-over-year for more than a decade and will share that expertise through its active management of the company.
“Our vision is to become a role model for health care,” said DaVita NephroLife’s Managing Director Shriram Vijayakumar. “Our innovative, integrated care has strong economic value for society.”
DaVita is currently providing dialysis services in the Asia-Pacific region in Singapore and has an agreement to develop and operate dialysis clinics in Malaysia.
Bridge of Life - DaVita Medical Missions™, a nonprofit organization founded by DaVita, has been conducting missions in rural India since 2008. The focus has been opening dialysis clinics in Phalodi and Jodhpur, updating the clinic’s water purification systems, and providing extensive training for over one hundred kidney care professionals.
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DaVita HQ Update #5
January 25, 2012
The DaVita Headquarters building is beginning to make its full presence in the area. The crane has been taken down, the facade is climbing up the building day by day, and you can begin to see the real shape of this building (not to mention a nice slanted roof).
Looking directly at the front of the project from 16th Street, you can see the nice seamless glass wall, matching its neighbor building as well as some other buildings in the area. On the other side, facing 16th Street directly, it looks like there will be a complete wall of glass as the facade. Neat!
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DaVita Way of Giving: Local Clinics Give $1,000,000 to Charities
January 24, 2012
DaVita announced today that “DaVita Way of Giving,” an unusual locally-focused charitable giving initiative, will result in over $1,000,000 in donations to non-profit organizations across the country.
While many companies make charitable contributions to national non-profit organizations, the DaVita Way of Giving is unusual in that company leaders empowered clinics across DaVita’ s 43-state footprint to select the locally-focused charity of their choice for a company contribution.
Nearly 600 clinics participated in the DaVita Way of Giving, and more than 600 charities throughout the U.S. will receive contributions. In some cases teammates in an individual clinic selected the local charity that would receive a $1,000 contribution. In others, numerous clinics in a particular community joined together to select a beneficiary that would receive a larger contribution.
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DaVita Way of Giving: Local Clinics Give $1,000,000 to Charities
January 24, 2012
DaVita announced today that DaVita Way of Giving, an unusual locally-focused charitable giving initiative, will result in over $1,000,000 in donations to non-profit organizations across the country.
While many companies make charitable contributions to national non-profit organizations, the DaVita Way of Giving is unusual in that company leaders empowered clinics across DaVitas® 43-state footprint to select the locally-focused charity of their choice for a company contribution.
Nearly 600 clinics participated in the DaVita Way of Giving, and more than 600 charities throughout the U.S. will receive contributions. In some cases teammates in an individual clinic selected the local charity that would receive a $1,000 contribution. In others, numerous clinics in a particular community joined together to select a beneficiary that would receive a larger contribution.
DaVita is a community first and a company second. Thats why we call it the DaVita Village, said Kent Thiry, DaVita CEO and chairman. We wanted to empower everyone in the Village especially our caregivers in the clinics to make a difference through DaVita giving.
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Study Sheds Light on What Many Kidney Failure Patients Stomach
January 24, 2012
This study is appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The findings indicate that greater efforts are needed to prevent and treat upper GI bleeding in these patients.
Poor kidney function puts people at risk for upper GI bleeding, which occurs in the esophagus, stomach, or first part of the intestine. Kidney failure patients on dialysis are particularly prone to developing the condition, which can lead to serious complications.
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The FAIR Foundation Sponsors an Online Poll to Determine If Citizens Would Accept $50,000 to be an Organ Donor
January 24, 2012
he FAIR Foundation, a national non-profit organization working to reverse America’s organ donor crisis, is sponsoring an online poll to determine if citizens, as a living donor or a deceased donor family, would accept $50,000 to be an organ donor.
FAIR’s President and CEO, Dr. Richard Darling states, “Our country is experiencing an organ-donor crisis. What crisis? A transplant patient dies, on average, every 58 minutes waiting of the ‘Gift of Life’ because our government relies primarily on just one organ-donor policy—altruism.”
Statistics from the federally mandated non-profit that oversees organ transplant in the USA, UNOS, and the United States Renal Database show there are almost 113,000 patients on the waiting list today and another 317,000 patients are undergoing difficult 3-hour kidney dialysis treatments three times a week but they are not even on the transplant list yet.
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DaVita Appoints Christopher Riopelle as Senior Vice President
January 23, 2012
DaVita announced the appointment of Christopher Riopelle as Senior Vice President of Operations. Riopelle is returning to DaVita® after working in the private healthcare sector for the past three years. Previously, Riopelle was a DaVita teammate for eight years, engaging in a variety of roles. He will report to Chief Operating Officer Dennis Kogod and Chief Executive Officer Kent Thiry.
“The DaVita mission, vision and values are deeply important to me and there was no other opportunity that offered as much personal and professional fulfillment as working with my DaVita teammates,” said Riopelle. “I can't describe how energized I am to get re-engaged with the DaVita Village and our great headquarter city of Denver.”
Riopelle rejoins DaVita with nearly 20 years of experience in the health care industry. He most recently served La Vie Care Centers, a private equity owned skilled nursing company, as Chief Operating Officer – a role requiring oversight of approximately $1.0 billion in annual revenue and 19,000 employees. In that role, Riopelle helped lead a team that engineered a financial, operational and cultural turnarounds leading to the successful sale of the company last month.
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Davita steps in when kidneys fail
January 23, 2012
The kidneys are a remarkable machine. Not only do these fist-sized organs filter impurities from the blood, since most people are born with two of them, they’ve got built-in redundancy. If one goes haywire, there’s another one to take over.
But when both cease to function – and according to WebMD they can work at only 10 percent capacity before negative symptoms present themselves – the body becomes poisoned.
For those people who face complete kidney failure, there is really only one choice; they must rely on kidney dialysis.
Josine Petrini, a nurse at the DaVita Dialysis unit in Tyler Memorial Hospital, explained that dialysis involves hooking an artificial kidney up to the patient through a “fistula.”
A fistula is a surgically-created connection between a vein and an artery. With the fistula in place, blood can be drawn, processed through the artificial kidney, and then returned to the same basic location.
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New Test To Detect Kidney Disease in Diabetes - 10 Years Earlier
January 21, 2012
Today I ran across a Joslin Diabetes Center study about diabetes and early detection of kidney disease. The study results are of particular interest to me for several reasons. I’ve worked with so many people with diabetes, diagnosed with kidney disease and they didn’t even know they were at risk before ending up near or on dialysis. Secondly, while working in a DaVita dialysis center I was involved in a research study called the Nutrition and Inflammatory Evaluation of Dialysis Patients (NIED) Study that has provided extremely useful data about the connection between chronic inflammation and kidney disease. Third, diabetes is one of the chronic diseases in my own family so being as healthy as possible is an important personal goal.
The Joslin study researchers identified two protein receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 and 2 (TNFR1 and TNFR2) that are elevated in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The presence of these markers in the bloodstream can predict your risk of kidney function loss as much as 10 years in advance. That’s huge considering many people are unaware they have kidney problems until they are in the later stages of chronic kidney disease.
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DaVita Opens in Hamden
January 20, 2012
On Tuesday, January 10, DaVita Hamden Dialysis, located at 2000 Dixwell Avenue, held its Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. 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. DaVita — which is Italian for “giving life” — 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. DaVita’s Community Care is comprised of four essential components: 1) Building a Community, 2) Building the Greatest Kidney Care Company the World has Ever Seen, 3) Being a Role Model for American Health Care, and 4) Sending Forth Ripples of Citizen Leadership. For more information, please visit www.davita.com or call 800.424.6589.
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Wayside Christian Mission Receives $5,000 from DaVita Way of Giving
January 20, 2012
Workers from two Louisville DaVita dialysis facilities presented Wayside Christian Mission with a check for $5,000 Friday.
It's part of the company program called DaVita Way of Giving. The group chose Wayside because of the work it does for the community.
Magen White of DaVita Dialysis explains, "Wayside is probably the biggest organization in our area that provides care for homeless and those in need. A lot of people come here and the only meal they get, get warm, or a place to sleep at night."
DaVita workers also volunteered their time to serve lunch at the shelter.
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Clinic gives big check to Blessings in a Backpack
January 19, 2012
Blessings came in the form of backpacks and big checks in Clark County Thursday.
Davita Dialysis donated a check in the amount of $7 thousand to Blessings in a Backpack at Jonathon Jennings Elementary School.
Each clinic in Jefferson, New Albany, Scottsburg and Salem Indiana came together to present the check.
Blessings in a Backpack provides students who live in low income homes a back pack filled with non-perishable food to take home for the weekend. This helps ensure students will get an adequate meal when they are not in school.
Linda Hill with Davita Dialysis said, "In a time of the economy where we're at right now a lot of families are struggling just to be able to provide food for their children."
Davita Dialysis called their charitable giving initiative "the Davita way of giving."
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Habitat for Humanity Receives K.T. Community Foundation Grant
January 18, 2012
DaVita nnounced that Habitat for Humanity in Dublin, Ga., was awarded a grant from the K.T. Community (KTC) Foundation.
KTC Foundation, which is funded by DaVita® CEO Kent Thiry and his wife, Denise O’Leary, provided the grant to supply tools and materials to paint the interior of a Habitat for Humanity home. For the past several years, DaVita teammates from across Georgia and South Carolina have volunteered to paint the interior of Habitat for Humanity homes as part of DaVita’s ”Village Service Day” projects.
This year, five local teammates volunteered to paint the interior of a Dublin home. As with many Habitat for Humanity builds, the local community has also embraced this project by volunteering their time and by generously assisting with building costs. Other community volunteers for this 10-week project include the Dublin Rotary Club and several local churches.
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DaVita Inc. Schedules 4th Quarter 2011 Investor Conference Call
January 17, 2012
DaVita announced today that it will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss fourth quarter results on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The company plans to release its results at market close the same day.
This call is also being webcast and can be accessed at the DaVita IR web page or over CCBN’s Investor Distribution Network. You can join this call on:
When calling in, please refer to the “DaVita Q4 2011” call and provide the operator with your name and company affiliation.
Investors who are unable to listen to the DaVita earnings conference call will be able to access a replay via our website at www.davita.com. There will be no telephone replay.
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Olson meets with kidney patients to talk about their needs
January 17, 2012
Congressman Pete Olson visited the DaVita Dialysis Center in Pearland last Friday to meet patients and caregivers and learn about dialysis and other kidney care needs for Texas residents.
“A critical part of my job is seeing firsthand the important work being done to care for those with serious medical needs,” said Representative Olson. “I am impressed with the work happening here and appreciate the chance to see DaVita's efforts to help with kidney disease up close."
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HELP receives $1,000 grant from DaVita dialysis foundation
January 16, 2012
DaVita through the Salinas Valley Dialysis Center provides clients with dialysis. The charitable arm of DaVita asked local centers to nominate a nonprofit that works in the local community to receive a donation. Registered nurse Candice Jansen nominated Healthy Eating Lifestyle Principles for the nutrition education it provides within Monterey County.
HELP received $1,000 from DaVita because of Jansen's nomination. HELP will put the money toward community education, such as classes for Girls Inc. and for parents at the Boys & Girls Club of Monterey County.
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Net in-migration to Colorado from other states growing
January 15, 2012
Doug and Heather Klof moved to Denver from Los Angeles via Portland in March as part of DaVita's corporate relocation. |