DaVita to Form Kidney Care Specialty Hospital Chain in China

DaVita Kidney Care, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.

and a leading global provider of kidney care services, today announced it is forming a joint venture kidney care specialty hospital chain in Shandong province China. The agreement establishes DaVita (Shandong) Kidney Disease Hospital Co., Ltd., a first-of-its-kind renal dialysis joint venture between a multinational health care provider and the private sector in China. "DaVita has the potential to significantly raise the quality of kidney care services available in this region of China," said Dennis Kogod, CEO of DaVita's international operations. "The new hospital chain we are creating is a major step in that direction." DaVita's partner in the joint venture is Xiaoyi Zhang, president of Shunjing Renal Hospital, the only private hospital approved for dialysis services in Jinan. Zhang comes to the new organization with more than a decade of experience leading large hospital organizations in Jinan, China. "We will incorporate DaVita's advanced concepts and technologies in health care management with our experience in operating hospitals in the local market," said Xiaoyi Zhang, who will also become the CEO of DaVita (Shandong) Kidney Disease Hospital. "This is a win-win for end stage