Tuesday May 22, 9:00 AM EDT
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., May 22, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- DaVita Inc. (DVA), one of the nation's leading providers of kidney dialysis services, announced today that the company will provide a hurricane hotline (1-800-400-8331) to help dialysis patients find open clinics and schedule treatments during emergencies such as hurricanes and other natural disasters. Launching on June 1, the service is available to kidney patients across the nation, regardless of care provider. The hotline information will be provided in over 20 languages.
"There is nothing more frightening than not knowing where to turn for essential, life-supporting care during an emergency," said Kent Thiry, DaVita Chief Operating Officer. "DaVita is relying on its nationwide network and kidney care community cooperation to ensure patients, local media, and emergency service providers have this number to refer to for up-to-the-minute care updates for the duration of the hurricane season."
Kidney failure patients -- who require dialysis treatments three times per week -- are at high risk during emergencies like hurricanes. These patients depend on life-sustaining treatments most often administered in geographically dispersed outpatient centers across the country. The DaVita hotline is designed to be a reliable emergency resource directing patients to open clinics and helping them to make arrangements for alternative care.
DaVita is a leading provider of dialysis services for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure. DaVita operates and provides administrative services to kidney dialysis centers and home peritoneal dialysis programs domestically in 42 states, as well as Washington, D.C.
About DaVita Inc.
DaVita Inc., a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest providers of dialysis services in the United States, providing dialysis services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and disease. DaVita manages over 1,300 outpatient facilities and acute units in over 800 hospitals located in 42 states and the District of Columbia, serving approximately 100,000 patients. For more information please visit
www.DaVita.com