DENVER, Jan. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita Kidney Care, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. (NYSE: DVA) and a leading provider of kidney care services, recognizes January as National Celebration of Life Month and Jan. 22 as National Celebration of Life Day by honoring its patients who continue to live a fulfilling life while on dialysis, as well as those who have received kidney transplants.
"Dialysis patients with a high quality of life tend to lead fulfilling and active lives through traveling, working, volunteering or other activities that give them a sense of purpose," said Duane Dunn, director of social worker services at DaVita Kidney Care. "It is important for the DaVita Kidney Care community to dedicate time to celebrate patients' active lives on dialysis as well as those former patients who have received a transplant."
DaVita Kidney Care has demonstrated superior clinical outcomes, which have been shown to have a direct effect on the health-related quality of life of dialysis patients – specifically in key areas including vascular access, survival rates, bone and mineral metabolism management, dialysis adequacy and preventative care such as immunizations. This commitment to quality helps DaVita Kidney Care positively impact the lives of its patients. DaVita Kidney Care outperformed the kidney care community in the Quality Incentive Program from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a program aimed at improving the quality of care provided to Medicare patients.
DaVita Kidney Care wants to encourage patients to continue living fulfilling lives, including continuing to work on dialysis – which has been correlated with lower rates of depression and fewer hospitalizations, and has helped patients become twice as likely to receive a transplant and have a better chance of maintaining that transplant. Social workers with DaVita Kidney Care work directly with patients to help ensure they are empowered with the tools to work toward a transplant.
"Living with kidney disease first-hand, I know that I was not the only one on that machine – to me, my whole family was on dialysis," said Abel Núñez-Guerrero, a former DaVita Kidney Care dialysis patient, current transplant recipient and Donate Life Ambassador. "Fortunately I was able to get a transplant and since then I have been able to return to work and want to be an advocate in celebrating the chance at a new life."
Recognizing and celebrating the fact that patients can lead full and active lives, whether on dialysis or for those that have received a transplant, is important to upholding DaVita Kidney Care's core values and mission.
About DaVita Kidney Care
DaVita Kidney Care is a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., a Fortune 500(r) 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 Sept. 30, 2014, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,152 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 170,000 patients. The company also operated 87 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.
DaVita and DaVita HealthCare Partners are trademarks or registered trademarks of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.
Contact Information
Media:
Justin Forbis
Justin.Forbis@davita.com
303.876.7496
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SOURCE DaVita Kidney Care