Take 15 Minutes to Be Kind to Your Kidneys
DaVita Kidney Care, a division of DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA) and a leading provider of kidney care services in the United States, today announced its participation in the 15th annual Florida Kidney Day at the state Capitol in Tallahassee. DaVita, along with the National Kidney Foundation of Florida, the Florida Renal Coalition (FRC), the Florida Renal Administrators Association (FRAA) and other dialysis providers, will offer free kidney screenings to legislators, staff and the public to bring awareness to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney health.
Florida Kidney Day, organized by the FRC, is intended to educate elected officials on the significance of dialysis treatment and proper kidney care as legislators work on a budget and seek to pass legislation to fund health care.
“We want to thank the Florida Renal Coalition and their partners for making Florida Kidney Day happen year after year,” said Dion Atchison, regional operations director for DaVita Kidney Care. “It’s important for people at risk for kidney disease to take the vital step in prevention by getting screened. For those with kidney failure, learning about treatment options like transplant and home dialysis is key to maintaining a high quality of life.”
There are more than 29,169 dialysis patients in Florida. DaVita provides dialysis treatments and patient care to nearly 14,000 of those patients at 246 centers across the state, employing nearly 3,700 Floridians.
Kidneys are the body’s filtration system, removing waste and extra fluid while balancing chemicals that are necessary to kidney function. Individuals with kidney disease lose the ability to effectively remove waste from the body. If when CKD progresses to end stage renal disease (ESRD), a kidney transplant or some form of dialysis is vital for survival. Often patients with CKD must manage other chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which also are the most common causes of kidney disease.
Proactive CKD screenings are an important first step to identifying kidney disease, and early interventions and treatment have been shown to slow its progression. Lifestyle changes, including eating healthy and managing medications, may also help CKD from progressing to ESRD and prevent other associated health conditions, like heart disease.
DaVita offers a variety of educational resources about kidney care and kidney disease management, including:
- Risk Quiz – This 60-second assessment can help individuals determine if they may be at risk for kidney disease.
- Kidney Smart® Classes – Whether an individual has been diagnosed with kidney disease or wants to know more about kidney health, these no-cost classes are open to the community.
- myDaVita – From tracking a kidney-friendly diet to accessing dialysis health records, this resource can help users understand all aspects of kidney care, whether someone has kidney disease or is an individual who cares for someone with the condition.
- Kidney-Friendly Cookbooks – DaVita has a collection of kidney-friendly recipes from slow cooker dishes to springtime favorites and more.
- Treatment Resource Hub – Patients can learn about treatment options to help cope with ESRD such as dialyzing at home or in a center while waiting to receive a kidney transplant.
For more information and tips on managing kidney health, follow DaVita on Twitter at @DaVita, Facebook at Facebook.com/DaVitaKidneyCare and Pinterest.
About DaVita Kidney Care
DaVita Kidney Care is a division of DaVita Inc., a Fortune 500® company, that through its operating divisions provides a variety of health care services to patient populations throughout the United States and abroad. A leading provider of dialysis services in the United States, DaVita Kidney Care treats patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita Kidney Care strives to improve patients’ quality of life by innovating clinical care, and by offering integrated treatment plans, personalized care teams and convenient health-management services. As of September 30, 2018, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,625 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 201,000 patients. The company also operated 251 outpatient dialysis centers located in 10 countries outside the United States. DaVita Kidney Care supports numerous programs dedicated to creating positive, sustainable change in communities around the world. The company’s leadership development initiatives and social responsibility efforts have been recognized by Fortune, Modern Healthcare, Newsweek and WorldBlu. For more information, please visit DaVita.com.
