DaVita's Approach to Integrated Care Nationally Recognized

DENVER, May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- DaVita Kidney Care, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. (NYSE: DVA) and a leading provider of kidney care services, today announced that its approach to integrated care has been recognized with two Dorland Health "Case In Point" Platinum Awards, a unique awards program that recognizes the most successful and innovative case-management programs working to improve health care across the care continuum.

DaVita's approach to integrated kidney care management includes partnering with patients, physicians, health systems, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and payers to provide holistic integrated care for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage renal disease (ESRD).

"We've been investing and growing our integrated kidney care capabilities for more than a decade and are honored to be recognized for our innovations to improve clinical outcomes while addressing the unique, complex needs of kidney care patients," said Javier Rodriguez, CEO of DaVita Kidney Care.

The two programs that won awards for integrated care are Patient Pathways and VillageHealth, both subsidiaries of DaVita.

Pathways Care Management, Patient Pathways – Winner: Best Case Management in Acute Settings, Provider Program

Pathways Care Management (PCM) by Patient Pathways supplements partnering hospitals' staffs with onsite renal nurses, patient liaisons and telephonic renal nurses who are experts in complex kidney patient care management, discharge planning, and post discharge care coordination and coaching.

Founded in 2007, Patient Pathways has improved the quality of life for more than 200,000 dialysis patients in more than 350 hospitals nationwide. The program's goals include improving the transition from the inpatient to the outpatient setting; assisting hospital partners with clinically appropriate reductions in hospital readmissions, avoidable admissions and length of stay; reducing avoidable acute dialysis treatments; and enhancing the patient experience and quality of life.

Since PCM's pilot launch in 2010 and subsequent program launch in 2013, the program has impacted over 5,000 patients and reduced hospital readmission rates an average of 27 percent, saving our hospital partners more than $11 million. Compared to Patient Pathways' original discharge planning service, PCM has proven 50 percent more effective in reducing all-cause readmission rates for ESRD patients.

VillageHealth Integrated Care Management – Winner: Best Disease Management/Population Health

VillageHealth's Integrated Care Management (ICM) services for payers and ACOs provides CKD and ESRD population health management delivered by a team of dedicated and highly skilled nurses who support patients both in the field and over the phone. These nurses use VillageHealth's industry-leading renal decision support and risk stratification software to manage a patient's coordinated needs. 

Since 1996, VillageHealth has innovated to become the country's largest renal National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)-accredited disease management program. ICM partners with patients, providers and care team members, focusing on the root causes of unnecessary hospitalizations such as unplanned dialysis starts, infection, fluid overload and medication management.

Improved clinical outcomes and reduced hospital readmission rates have contributed to improved quality of life for patients. VillageHealth ICM has delivered up to a 15 percent reduction in non-dialysis medical costs for ESRD patients. Applied to our managed ESRD population, this represents an annual savings of more than $30 million.

Winners of the "Case In Point" Platinum Awards were announced May 5, 2014, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

DaVita and DaVita HealthCare Partners are trademarks or registered trademarks of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.

About DaVita Kidney Care
DaVita Kidney Care is a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners 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 March 31, 2014, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,098 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 165,000 patients. The company also operated 75 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.

Contact Information
Media:
Ginger Pelz
(303) 876-6611
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SOURCE DaVita