DENVER, Dec. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- Today, DaVita Kidney
Care announced that more than 100,000 DaVita patients
have received a kidney transplant since 2000. This milestone
represents the culmination of two decades of innovative strategies
spearheaded by the kidney care provider to increase patient
education and access to kidney transplantation.
"We are deeply committed to helping every interested patient be
evaluated by transplant centers and stay transplant ready," said
Dr. Jeff Giullian, chief medical
officer for DaVita. "Transplant is the best option for most
patients with kidney failure, as it's the only way for these
patients to live without relying on dialysis."
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), 24,273
people received a kidney transplant in the United States in 2019. More than 6,000
DaVita patients have already received a transplant in 2020, despite
the many setbacks transplant programs faced due to COVID-19.
At the same time, nearly 100,000 people in the United States remain on a kidney
transplant waitlist. The average wait for a non-living kidney donor
match is 3.6 years.
The Advancing American Kidney Health initiative launched
in 2019 calls for doubling the number of kidneys available for
transplant by 2030. The initiative lays out a roadmap to help organ
procurement organizations and transplant centers reach this goal,
which aligns with DaVita's longstanding work to empower all
patients to choose to be evaluated for transplant.
Kidney transplants are associated with improved clinical
outcomes and quality of life. For these reasons, combined with the
limited availability of viable organs, many patients with kidney
failure choose living organ donation.
Prior to beginning dialysis, DaVita offers education to help
people with kidney disease proactively manage their kidney health
and learn about possible treatment options, including
transplantation. DaVita patients receive comprehensive transplant
education even if they choose to start dialysis. This education
empowers patients and their loved ones with essential information
to help them successfully navigate their journey to transplant.
DaVita's transplant education aims to help all patients —
regardless of their age, race, health conditions or insurance
status — stay informed about the potential benefits of
transplantation and get the support they need if they choose to
pursue this treatment option.
DaVita's kidney transplant education programs include:
- Kidney Smart®: Launched in 2012. Kidney Smart
is a no-cost, comprehensive and interactive kidney education
program offered online or in-person and open to anyone in the
community. More than 200,000 people have received Kidney Smart
education.
- Transplant Smart®: This multi-media kidney
transplant education program features animated and peer-to-peer
videos, as well as a robust workbook full of resources, to inform
patients about the transplant process and what to expect at every
step along the way.
- Patient Referral: DaVita believes every patient who
wants to pursue a transplant should have the opportunity to do so.
As such, patients are referred to transplant centers for evaluation
based on their interest. Transplant centers decide which patients
to accept for the waitlist. DaVita empowers and educates patients
to help them make the best decisions for their health.
- Transplant Workflow Technology: DaVita created the only
nationwide system for tracking transplant status from education to
referral and ultimately waitlist for the 200,000 patients served by
the kidney care provider. Social workers use this platform to help
ensure every patient is educated, and to track referrals and
waitlist status updates from transplant centers.
To access educational resources about kidney transplant, visit
DaVita.com/Transplant.
About DaVita Inc.
DaVita (NYSE: DVA) is a health
care provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve
quality of life for patients globally. The company is one of the
largest providers of kidney care services in the U.S. and has been
a leader in clinical quality and innovation for more than 20 years.
Through DaVita Kidney Care, the
company treats patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage
kidney disease. DaVita is committed to bold, patient-centric care
models, implementing the latest technologies and moving toward
integrated care offerings for all. Through these efforts, DaVita
has also become the largest provider of home dialysis in the
country. As of September 30, 2020,
DaVita served 205,300 patients at 2,809 outpatient dialysis centers
in the United States. The company
also operated 291 outpatient dialysis centers in nine countries
worldwide. DaVita has reduced hospitalizations, improved mortality,
and worked collaboratively to propel the kidney care industry to
adopt an equitable and high-quality standard of care for all
patients, everywhere. To learn more, visit DaVita.com/About.
Media:
Halie Peddle
(303) 550-6349
halie.peddle@davita.com
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SOURCE DaVita Kidney Care