EL SEGUNDO, Calif.—Dialysis provider DaVita Inc. has launched its Flu Fighters initiative this month to complement National Influenza Week, Dec. 8 - 14.
Dialysis patients who suffer from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at high risk for the flu; therefore, DaVita is making flu vaccinations are available at no cost to all DaVita patients and are covered by Medicare.
The DaVita Flu Fighters immunization standards are in sync with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services initiative called Healthy People 2010. DaVita expects that more than 90 percent of its patients, as well as direct patient case employees, will be vaccinated to decrease the chances of spreading disease across the dialysis center and to optimize the health of its patients.
Allen R. Nissenson, MD, chief medical officer at DaVita said, "Each year more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for influenza-related complications. Influenza vaccinations are of the highest clinical focus in our company. We want our patients to be as healthy as possible and vaccinations are an opportunity to prevent illness before it starts. It is just one more way to provide for quality patient care and put our patients first."
