DaVita Emergency Response Efforts Ensure Vital Treatment for More than 700 Kidney Failure Patients in Need of Life-Saving Dialysis Treatments in Areas Affected by Southern California...( Caregivers - even those evacuated fr...),Health

Caregivers - even those evacuated from homes - make rounds to assist those

in need

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- More than 700 dialysis patients requiring vital services benefited from the emergency response efforts enacted by DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), one of the nation's leading provider of kidney care services, during the recent wildfires affecting areas of Southern California. The program, known as DaVERT (DaVita Village Emergency Response Team), incorporated lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina to ensure a smooth response to the crisis.

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DaVita teammates (employees), took shifts throughout the fires to locate and speak with every patient in their jurisdiction, assess their individual situation and ensure that they received treatments and any necessary care-including proper shelter. DaVita's contact center was open 24 hours a day to receive incoming calls/questions from patients and their family members.

"I was one of those who left under mandatory evacuation and missing dialysis treatments is not an option for me," said Sirish Chandra, a DaVita patient in the San Diego area. "Thanks to the incredible dedication of DaVita teammates including Janette, my facility administrator, my dialysis care was taken care of. DaVita made sure we all felt safe."

There were no DaVita centers damaged by the fires, and only one temporarily shut-down due to road closures-Carmel Mountain in San Diego. The center was closed for three days; however, its 40 patients continued to dialyze at a nearby siste
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