DaVita to offer option for dialysis patients in Poinsett County

Construction on the DaVita Dialysis Clinic was underway last week in Marked Tree. (Democrat Tribune photo/Dan Brawner)

Construction on the new DaVita, Inc. dialysis unit on Hester Parker Drive in Marked Tree continued last week with the foundation and plumbing in the process of being set.

DaVita, which recently opened its 1,500th dialysis unit in Gulf Shores, Ala. is, according to a company press release, is a leading provider in the United States of dialysis services with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease.

The company, which is headquartered in Denver, Col., manages more than 1,475 outpatient facilities and acute units in more that 700 hospitals located in 43 states and the District of Columbia. They serve approximately 114,000 patients, nearly one-third of all dialysis patients in the U.S.

DaVita also has units in Bentonville, Fayetteville, Jacksonville, Little Rock, Mena, North Little Rock, Siloam Springs and Springdale.

"We have people calling about jobs with them," said Marked Tree mayor Dixon Chandler Monday. "I think they chose Marked Tree because we (have a) central location, are right on the interstate and are across from the nursing home."

Chandler went on to say that Three Rivers Nursing Center has several people who would use the facility as well as other individuals from Marked Tree, Lepanto, Tyronza and the area.

"Several people in Marked Tree have to go three days a week, six hours a day," continued Chandler. "There are people who have been going to Marion and Jonesboro who would come here. (The company) expects it to be full and busy all the time."

Last month, DaVita was chosen as a 2009 Best Company to Work for in Colorado.

"We are pleased to be recognized for our continued efforts to make DaVita among the best places for our teammates to work," said Kent Thiry, chairman and chief executive officer of DaVita.

The distinction came on the heels of being named one of the "Best Places to Work in Los Angeles" by The Los Angeles Business Journal.

In April it was named as the only Fortune 500 company to make the list of "Most Democratic Places to Work For" by the 2009 WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces. It was one of only 40 companies, overall, named to the list.