DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and disease (CKD), recently introduced "Treatment Evaluator", an interactive online tool designed to provide education about the different dialysis modalities DaVita® offers, and encourage patients to engage in conversation with their nephrologist to determine which treatment option is most compatible with their lifestyle.

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Treatment Evaluator(SM), available through http://www.davita.com/ by clicking on "Tools", walks patients through a simple 18-question quiz to find out which modality -- in-center hemodialysis, in-center self-care hemodialysis, in-center nocturnal hemodialysis, home hemodialysis, or peritoneal dialysis -- is a potential fit based on their answers.

The online quiz allows patients to answer questions about treatment preferences, home and work responsibilities, and lifestyle choices. Treatment Evaluator then provides an overview of three potentially compatible modalities, and how each may benefit a patient's lifestyle. The tool also includes links to additional resources including articles about the different modalities, online videos and an animated presentation about how the kidneys function.

"When speaking with a dialysis patient about the different treatment options, it's good to have supplemental resources to complement what can be a lot of information," said Joel Glickman, M.D. "Tools like Treatment Evaluator help improve communication between patients and nephrologists by giving the patient an opportunity to review information about the different modalities at their own pace, in an a way that makes it easy for them to understand."

Treatment Evaluator was developed under the supervision of nephrologists, nurses, renal dieticians and others to provide patients with a user-friendly tool to learn more about the different treatment options available, and help them understand how a modality compatible with their lifestyle and health needs can add value to their dialysis treatment. As part of DaVita.com, the interactive tool is one of many resources available to help patients living with chronic kidney disease learn ways to improve all aspects of their lives.

DaVita is committed to caring for its patients through ongoing education and outreach. In fact, DaVita's patient quality significantly exceeds national averages, as validated by both the Clinical Performance Measures Report published in 2006 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the December 2007 Fistula First Vascular Access Improvement Initiative.

DaVita and Treatment Evaluator are trademarks or registered trademarks of DaVita Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About DaVita Inc.

DaVita Inc., a FORTUNE 500® 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. For more information about DaVita and its kidney education, please visit http://www.davita.com/.

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SOURCE: DaVita Inc.