DENVER, March 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita Kidney Care, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. (NYSE: DVA) and a leading provider of kidney care services, will host a Google+ Hangout on Air to educate individuals about kidney disease on World Kidney Day.

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Join the "We're in This Together: Be #KidneyAware on World Kidney Day" Google+ Hangout on Air and be part of a global kidney disease awareness initiative on Thursday, March 12 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET by registering at bit.ly/WKDHangout2015.

Panelists for the Google+ Hangout on Air are:

    --  Mahesh Krishnan, M.D., international chief medical officer and vice
        president of research and development for DaVita Kidney Care
    --  Amy McDermott, LMSW, social worker for DaVita Kidney Care
    --  Lawanda Woods, RN, MSN, Kidney Smart educator

"Kidney disease grows eight percent each year across the globe," said Dr. Krishnan. "The trouble is that many people have kidney disease and don't realize it. Our goal is to help people get to know their kidneys, understand their risk for kidney disease and how a simple blood test can confirm the disease."

According to WorldKidneyDay.org, 600 million people around the world have some form of kidney disease. That number continues to grow and many don't even know they have the disease. When caught early enough, the progression of kidney disease can be slowed down or, in some cases, even prevented with a kidney-friendly diet and help from an integrated care team. If kidney disease continues to progress to end stage renal disease, dialysis or kidney transplantation are the only options for survival. Roughly 1.4 million people worldwide are on dialysis, and that number continues to rise each year.

People at the greatest risk for kidney disease include those with diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as older adults. Minority populations - particularly Hispanics, African-Americans and American Indians - are also at a disproportionately higher rate of developing kidney disease. Additional risk factors include people with cardiovascular disease, obesity, high cholesterol, lupus and a family history of the disease.

To learn more about kidney disease and take the 60-second risk quiz, visit DaVita.com/LearnYourRisk.

For those already living with kidney disease, DaVita Kidney Care offers resources to help manage the disease.

Specialized instructors, such as nurses and dietitians, lead no-cost, 90-minute Kidney Smart® classes where individuals can learn:

    --  How to create an action plan that's personalized to your lifestyle and
        will help you manage your kidney health
    --  What causes kidney disease and how to delay its progression
    --  What diet resources are available to help you manage your diet and cook
        a variety of flavorful, kidney-friendly meals
    --  Why continuing to work may keep you happier and healthier
    --  How insurance counselors can help you navigate coverage or financial
        questions

To find a U.S.-based Kidney Smart class near you, visit KidneySmart.org.

Other resources DaVita Kidney Care offers include:

    1. myDaVita - an online community designed to help you manage your health,
       find support from others, and engage family and friends in an interactive
       forum. Sign up at DaVita.com/JoinMyDaVita to share stories, gain insights
       and make connections with others.
    2. DaVita Diet Helper - Taking charge of your health through diet management
       is a critical way to slow down the progression of kidney disease. In
       addition to 1,000-plus kidney-friendly recipes, DaVita Diet Helper™
       offers a way to track potassium, phosphorus and sodium levels. Learn more
       at DaVita.com/MyDietHelper.
    3. Find a Nephrologist - It is important to find the right nephrologist to
       help you manage your kidney disease. Go to DaVita.com/FAD to locate a
       nearby nephrologist.
    4. Stay Employed - Working while on dialysis can have both physical and
       emotional benefits, including lower rates of depression, fewer
       hospitalizations, and higher scores on general health and vitality tests.
       Find out more about the benefits of working and how to have conversations
       about kidney disease with your employer at DaVita.com/WorkingBenefits.

DaVita Kidney Care dialysis centers around the world will also be hosting screening to help individuals know their risk. DaVita Kidney Care currently operates centers in China, Colombia, Germany, India, Malaysia, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States.

To learn more about DaVita Kidney Care's commitment to patients worldwide, visit DaVita.com/International.

About DaVita Kidney Care

DaVita Kidney Care is a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., a Fortune 500(r) 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 Dec. 31, 2014, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,179 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 170,000 patients. The company also operated 91 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.

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

Contact Information

Media:
Bianca Violante
Office: (303) 876-6614
Bianca.Violante@davita.com

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SOURCE DaVita Kidney Care

SOURCE: DaVita Kidney Care