2008-09-07 04:38:02 -

- For DaVita Inc. Alia Mahi, 310-702-2653 As Hurricane Ike moves closer to Florida, DaVita Inc, one of the nation's leading providers of kidney care services, is working to enable dialysis patients to continue their scheduled treatments. DaVita(R) is mobilizing teams to provide 120 Florida clinics with the resources to weather the expected storm.

Kidney patients are at high

risk during emergencies as they depend on thrice-weekly life-sustaining dialysis treatments. To continue quality care, DaVita is working on the following measures:

-- Provide high-capacity generators to continue dialysis treatments

-- Offer instructions for emergency preparedness kits for patients with special diet needs

-- Coordinate patient scheduling and communication to ensure dialysis treatments remain constant during the storm

Dialysis patients are encouraged to call the Guest Services Contact Center at (800) 400-8331. Live team members assist in making alternative arrangements for treatment if necessary. For additional information please visit DaVita.com for material including articles on Emergency preparedness for people with kidney disease and Preparing for the unexpected with home dialysis.

DaVita is a registered trademark of DaVita Inc. All other trademarks are the property 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 1,300 outpatient facilities and acute units in more than 700 hospitals located in 43 states and the District of Columbia, serving approximately 107,000 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 and its community programs, please visit www.davita.com

Dialysis Patients Requiring Treatment Encouraged to Call (800)
400-8331