News Releases

Renal Advantage Endorses Kidney Community Campaign to Improve Survival Rates of First-Year Dialysis

Contact:
Linda M. Meador
Vice President, Human Resources
615-661-1100

Brentwood, Tennessee (June 8, 2009) – Renal Advantage Inc. (RAI), the third largest for profit provider of dialysis services in the United States, today announced its endorsement of and participation in a national campaign to reduce mortality among first-year dialysis patients by 20 percent by the end of 2012.

Michael D. Klein, Chief Executive Officer of Renal Advantage, said, “Through the campaign, the kidney care community seeks to improve survival rates for patients new to dialysis, when they are particularly vulnerable. This effort is expected to extend the lives of at least 10,000 patients with kidney failure.” Mr. Klein called on members of the kidney care community to join this effort and to continue its commitment to improving the first-year mortality rate. He added, “Achieving this goal will not only make a major difference in the life expectancy of the first-year patients, but will also contribute to the body of knowledge for future prevention, education and treatment.”

The “Performance Excellence and Accountability in Kidney Care,” or “PEAK” campaign (www.kidneycarequality.org), was launched by Kidney Care Partners (KCP), a broad-based coalition of kidney patient advocacy groups, health care professional organizations, dialysis service providers and manufacturers who seek to improve quality of care available to the 400,000 Americans currently diagnosed with kidney failure. Working with researchers and other experts in the kidney care community, the PEAK campaign will equip health care providers and professionals with tools to help first-year dialysis patients better understand their disease and manage the effects of dialysis on themselves and their families.

Even though End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) survival rates have improved over the last decade, first-year mortality has remained static compared to overall mortality. All too often, the onset of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is gradual and undetected, leaving patients especially vulnerable when first diagnosed and treatment begins. Helping patients to understand their disease and to manage it appropriately is an essential ingredient to high quality care for newly diagnosed patients and a central component of the PEAK campaign. According to Kidney Care Partners, dialysis providers already have implemented robust quality assurance programs that ensure consistent delivery of high quality care. PEAK participants are undertaking this voluntary effort to take quality improvement to the next level.

Sharon Burbage, Vice President, Clinical Services of Renal Advantage, added, “Renal Advantage Inc. already has a multi-faceted quality program in place that ensures consistent delivery of high quality care, and we look forward to joining the kidney care community in the focus of improving the mortality rate of first-year dialysis patients.”

About Renal Advantage Inc.: Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, RA Group Holdings, Inc., through its wholly owned entity, Renal Advantage Inc., provides dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD). With the completion of the acquisition of National Renal Alliance, RA Group Holdings, through its operating companies, provides services to approximately 12,000 patients in 136 dialysis centers in 18 states. RAI also delivers laboratory services through RenaLab, a state-of-the-art independent clinical laboratory located in Jackson, Mississippi. Founded by veteran healthcare executives, RAI’s growth plan began with its acquisition of 73 dialysis centers in October 2005, which was financed in partnership with Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe. For more information, visit RAI’s website at www.renaladvantage.com.