Education Critical For Those With Kidney Disease
DaVita Inc. announced the addition of a "First Day on Dialysis" video on its company’s educational website. The video helps prepare first-time dialysis patients for what to expect at their treatment.
El Segundo, CA (PRWEB via PR Web
Direct) March 22, 2005 — DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA) announced the addition of a
"First Day on Dialysis" video on its company’s educational website. The video
helps prepare first-time dialysis patients for what to expect at their
treatment. DaVita.com is currently the number one online resource for
information on dialysis and chronic kidney disease and is designed for people
with kidney disease, their family members, caregivers and friends.
In an
aging and increasingly overweight population, chronic kidney disease has become
a growing epidemic. It is estimated there are 20 million Americans with kidney
disease. Over 400,000 have kidney failure and require dialysis or a transplant
to stay alive. That number is expected to double in the next decade, as it has
in the past two. The growing number of people with kidney disease is attributed
to a dramatic rise in diabetes—the number one cause of chronic kidney disease—as
well as hypertension, which is the second most common cause.
"Over the
last several years there has been a rise in chronic kidney disease," states Kent
Thiry, DaVita’s CEO. "We want to help educate people so they can make changes in
their lives to delay or stop the progression of kidney
disease."
DaVita.com provides hundreds of informational articles on how
to delay or stop the progression of kidney disease, in addition to discussing
lifestyle changes and the process of dialysis treatment. A favorite feature of
the site is free recipes for people at every stage of kidney disease. Hundreds
of recipes are now listed by food category as well as displayed by type of diet:
CKD non-dialysis, dialysis and diabetic dialysis. More articles and recipes are
added to the website weekly.
In addition to new content, the updated
website design features a larger text-size option for vision-impaired visitors
and a more powerful search tool. Easier to locate articles are categorized
either under "chronic kidney disease," "dialysis" or "diabetes." Online tools
are also displayed on every page for immediate access.
Easy to
understand and navigate, DaVita.com has been a growing success since launching
in January 2004. Educational and inspiring articles together with animated
learning modules including "How Kidneys Work" and "How Dialysis Works," the new
video and online presentations help people understand about chronic kidney
disease using many learning methods.
Each month over 100,000 visitors go
to DaVita.com to use features such as the Discussion Forum, which enables
visitors to communicate with each other. Online services such as the "Find a
Dialysis Center" tool locates over 4,000 centers throughout the U.S. and checks
availability for patients who are beginning dialysis or those traveling and
needing dialysis away from home.
Other unique offerings include free
interactive kidney education classes hosted by DaVita professionals, and online
insurance consultations to answer questions about insurance and
billing.
"By offering important information, unique services, and a forum
for people to discuss their concerns, the DaVita website is the premier online
resource for learning about kidney disease and dialysis," says Mr.
Thiry.
DaVita.com also features a GFR Calculator (for determining the
glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is the best measure of kidney function
to ascertain a person’s stage of kidney disease), postings of the most recent
kidney-related articles from a dialysis and CKD news feed and a monthly
e-newsletter announcing new articles and features at the website. There is also
a toll-free number for website visitors to call for more information and
services.
About DaVita
DaVita is a leading provider of dialysis
services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. We serve over 54,000
patients in 37 states and the District of Columbia from approximately 660
affiliated outpatient dialysis centers. DaVita also provides acute inpatient
dialysis services in approximately 370 hospitals across the country.
All
this makes DaVita one of the largest providers of dialysis services in the
United States. Though we're proud of this standing, we have set our sights on a
higher goal. We want to be the greatest dialysis company the world has ever
seen. And we're accomplishing this through a shared commitment to our mission
and values.
About DaVita.com
DaVita.com is the premier online resource
for information on dialysis and chronic kidney disease. The website was created
to answer questions and provide education for people with chronic kidney
disease, diabetes or on dialysis, their caregivers, family members and friends.
DaVita.com is a trusted, easy-to-understand source featuring a user-friendly
design that includes large-size type that can be increased or decreased for the
best viewing.
From informative articles and animated learning modules to
recipes for the renal diet and other useful tools, DaVita.com is always adding
to the wealth of information it offers website visitors. You are invited to
discover how kidneys work and how dialysis works, plus take advantage of special
features including our: Discussion Forum, dialysis center locator, Insurance
Consultation, GFR Calculator and more.
Sign up to receive the monthly
DaVita.com newsletter and we'll keep you posted on what's new on the
website.
For more information, please visit www.davita.com or contact Ernie
Barojas at 310-536-2520.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/3/prweb220579.htm