DaVita Launches 'Flu Fighter Program' in Support of National Influenza Week
December 10 2008 - 8:33AM
PR Newswire (US)
New Initiative Aims to Provide For Continued Commitment to Superior
Clinical Outcomes and Processes EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Dec. 10
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney
care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and
disease (CKD), continues to push the Flu Fighters initiative which
takes place during the month of December to complement the events
of National Influenza Week, Dec. 8 - 14. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/DAVITALOGO) The
National Influenza Week kicks off this week and is designed to
raise awareness of the importance of continuing influenza (flu)
vaccination, as well as foster greater use of flu vaccine in
December, January, and beyond. DaVita(R) strives to educate every
patient on the benefits of the flu vaccine and hopes to ensure at
least 90 percent of patients at every center get vaccinated.
Vaccination is one of the most effective interventions available to
save lives and prevent hospitalization in dialysis patients.
Dialysis patients who already suffer from End Stage Renal Disease
are at high risk for the flu, and DaVita hopes this initiative will
combat those odds. Allen R. Nissenson, MD, Chief Medical Officer at
DaVita said, "Each year more than 200,000 people are hospitalized
for influenza-related complications. Influenza vaccinations are of
the highest clinical focus in our company. We want our patients to
be as healthy as possible and vaccinations are an opportunity to
prevent illness before it starts. It is just one more way to
provide for quality patient care and put our patients first." The
flu vaccinations are available at no cost to all DaVita patients
and are covered by Medicare. The DaVita Flu Fighters immunization
standards are in sync with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services initiative called Healthy People 2010. DaVita expects that
more than 90 percent of its patients, as well as direct patient
case employees, will be vaccinated to decrease the chances of
spreading disease across the dialysis center and to optimize the
health of its patients. DaVita is a registered trademarks of DaVita
Inc. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective
owners. About DaVita Inc. DaVita Inc., a FORTUNE 500(R) company, is
a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, providing
dialysis services and education for patients with chronic kidney
failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita manages more than 1,400
outpatient facilities and acute units in more than 700 hospitals
located in 43 states and the District of Columbia, serving
approximately 110,000 patients. As part of DaVita's commitment to
building a healthy, caring community, DaVita develops, participates
in and donates to numerous programs dedicated to transforming
communities and creating positive, sustainable change for children,
families and our environment. For more information about DaVita,
its kidney education materials, and its community programs, please
visit http://www.davita.com/.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/DAVITALOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: DaVita Inc. CONTACT:
Kristin Landreth of DaVita Inc., +1-310-536-2499 Web site:
http://www.davita.com/
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