DaVita HealthCare Partners hosts health and disaster preparedness fair in Colorado Springs

DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. (NYSE: DVA), one of the nation's largest and most innovative health care communities, is hosting a health and disaster preparedness fair on Saturday, Aug. 22, at the St. Francis Medical Center off Woodmen Road in Colorado Springs.

The event, a joint presentation by the DaVita Village Emergency Response Team (DaVERT) and Colorado Springs Health Partners (CSHP), is being held to provide free, primary health screenings for the community and to highlight the need for health care providers to have comprehensive disaster preparedness plans in place to address issues that could impact the Pikes Peak Region.

"Colorado's environment is anything but predictable," said Dr. David Ross, CSHP Urgent Care physician. "As a doctor trained in emergency medicine, I see the value in this exercise for our community from both the public awareness side and from the medical side, along with tying disaster preparedness to the overall health and wellness of our community."

DaVita and CSHP have engaged multiple organizations throughout Colorado Springs in support of creating awareness of personal health and the importance of being prepared for a natural or man-made disaster. For example, the following organizations will be part of the event:

• Susan G. Komen
• American Diabetes Association
• READYColorado
• The Salvation Army
• United Way
• Colorado Springs Utilities
• Black Forest Fire/Rescue

"The need for life-sustaining and even life-saving medical services doesn't stop in the event of adverse weather or other adverse occurrences that impact patients' ability to seek medical services," said Shaun Collard, executive director of DaVERT. "We planned this event to showcase how a community can come together to prepare and protect the citizens of that community during disruptive events."

DaVERT was created in the early 2000s after multiple destructive hurricanes to help minimize their impact on dialysis patients. DaVERT's scope has broadened to help patients across the health care spectrum by preparing for and responding to a variety of natural and man-made disasters.

DaVERT helps prepare clinical teammates, reinforces policies and procedures, and educates and notifies patients prior to and during weather emergencies. The team takes inventory of the health care facility and its supplies, secures the facility and biohazard storage, and prepares for on-site support of any potential interruptions to operations (e.g., bringing in generators to restore power). DaVERT also practices and educates teammates on facility evacuation procedures.