DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA), a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), announced today that the company will provide a hurricane hotline (1-800-400-8331) that is activated 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help dialysis patients find open clinics and schedule treatments during emergencies such as hurricanes and other natural disasters.
“DaVita is relying on its nationwide network and kidney care community cooperation to ensure patients, local media and emergency service providers have this number to refer to for up-to-the-minute care updates for the duration of the hurricane season.”
In conjunction with President Obama's National Hurricane Preparedness Week, the hotline service will be available to kidney patients across the nation, regardless of their dialysis care provider. The hotline information will be provided in more than 20 languages.
"There is nothing more frightening than not knowing where to turn for essential, life-supporting care during an emergency," said Kent Thiry, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DaVita®. "DaVita is relying on its nationwide network and kidney care community cooperation to ensure patients, local media and emergency service providers have this number to refer to for up-to-the-minute care updates for the duration of the hurricane season."
Kidney failure patients -- who require dialysis treatments three times per week -- are at high risk during natural disasters and weather-related emergencies, such as hurricanes. Dialysis patients depend on life-sustaining treatments most often administered in geographically dispersed outpatient centers across the country. The DaVita hotline is designed to be a reliable emergency resource directing patients to open clinics and helping them to make arrangements for alternative care.
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