Abstracts Reveal Ground-breaking Information on Kidney Education and Modality Treatments

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), in conjunction with DaVita Clinical Research(R) (DCR), today unveils innovative research featured in five abstracts at the Twenty-ninth Annual Dialysis Conference (ADC) in Houston, TX. The spectrum of research includes developments in pediatric dialysis, home hemodialysis and CKD education. In particular, DaVita's Abstract on CKD education shows patients enrolled in the EMPOWER(TM) program are more likely to choose a fistula, the optimum form of vascular access, and take an active role in their care.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/DAVITALOGO)

    The five abstracts unveiled today include:
          -- EMPOWERing Patients to Take Control of Kidney Disease
             Susan Wright, BSN, RN, Amy Bogan BSN, RN and Ajay Chokshi
          -- Case Study: Buttonhole Cannulation Technique with Keloid-Scarred
             Skin
             Sylvia Donato-Moore, BSN, RN, CNN
          -- Experience with Intradialytic Parenteral Nutrition at a Pediatric
             Hemodialysis Unit
             Kathleen Traficanti, BS, RD
          -- NxStage(R) Pureflow SL Culture and LAL Collection Using the NxStage
             Sample Bag
             Debbie Allen, RN, CNN
          -- Profiles of Successful Daily Home Hemodialysis Patient-Care
             Partner Dyads: From Mutual Benefits to Martydom
             Meg Wise, PhD, Dorian Shatell, MS, Kristi Klicko, CHES and Mary
             Showers, RN, CNN

DaVita Chief Medical Officer, Allen R. Nissenson, MD states, 'DaVita is proud to be a part of ADC, which is an outstanding conference that solely focuses on dialysis. As a leader in clinical outcomes, and a provider who serves more than 1-in-4 dialysis patients in the nation, we will continue our research and the Relentless Pursuit of Quality(TM). Amongst DaVita's many research findings, we will share our early data from our EMPOWER Program pilot in 2008, demonstrating the importance of early CKD education.'

The abstract focusing on the DaVita(R) EMPOWER(TM) program is especially significant as it is the first time data on this program has been released. The EMPOWER program is a series of educational classes where earlier stage CKD patients, starting in Stage 3, can learn more about kidney disease.