DaVita's IMPACT Program Reduces Mortality for New Dialysi...( Study Shows New Patient Care Model Si...),Health

Study Shows New Patient Care Model Significantly Improves Patient Outcomes

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), today released the findings of a study revealing DaVita's IMPACT(TM) (Incident Management of Patients, Actions Centered on Treatment) pilot program can significantly reduce mortality rates for new dialysis patients. The study presented at the National Kidney Foundation's Spring Clinical Meeting in Nashville, TN details how the IMPACT patient care model educates and manages dialysis patients within the first 90 days of treatment, when they are most unstable and are at highest risk. In addition to lower mortality rates, patient outcomes improved - confirming the health of this vulnerable patient population is better supported under DaVita's relentless pursuit of quality(TM) care.

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The pilot program was implemented with 606 patients completing the IMPACT program over a 12 month period in 44 DaVita centers around the nation. IMPACT focuses on patient education and important clinical outcomes - such as the measurement of adequate dialysis, access placement, anemia, and albumin levels - monitoring the patient's overall health in the first 90 days on dialysis. Data reflects a reduction in annualized mortality rates by eight percent for IMPACT patients compared with non-IMPACT patients in the DaVita network. Given that DaVita has roughly 28,000 new patients starting dialysis every year, this reduction affects a significant number of lives.

In addition, a higher number of IMPACT patients versus non-IMPACT patients had an
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