Fresenius Medical Care Announces the Launch of KidneyTel

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Fri Sep 11, 2009 1:19am EDT

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090910006596/en

Creating a "Medical Home" for the Kidney Patient
WALTHAM, Mass.--(Business Wire)--
Kidney patients often have a number of serious chronic health issues in addition
to their kidney disease. Fresenius Medical Care, the world`s leading renal
therapies company, has developed the KidneyTel system to provide an integrated
care solution to assist patients, their families and their providers in managing
the full range of health issues that kidney patients face on a daily basis. The
KidneyTel system will provide a key link in the creation of a "medical home" for
the kidney patient, and will be an enabling technology for nephrologists and
dialysis providers in establishing Accountable Care Organizations (ACO`s) for
the treatment of kidney patients. 

"Dialysis is a life sustaining treatment for the kidney patient, however it is
an episodic treatment typically provided three days a week. Support and
telehealth monitoring of the dialysis patients` health condition on non-dialysis
days (and every day for the home dialysis patient) is a welcome area for
improvement in current clinical practice. Every day attention is the standard of
care we would all want for ourselves or a member of our family; and it is
exactly what we can now provide with KidneyTel," commented Robert Farrell,
President, Integrated Care Management, Fresenius Medical Care North America. 

The KidneyTel system combines home telehealth monitoring device technology with
an integrated care management program specifically tailored to the kidney
patient. KidneyTel provides interactive daily contact and education with
dialysis patients by monitoring health issues through a series of interactive
questions on key health risk areas. In addition, KidneyTel collects daily vital
signs of blood pressure, weight, and blood glucose. This information is
transmitted each day to the KidneyTel IT system and call center. The KidneyTel
clinical team is alerted to identified health risks and trends and can determine
an appropriate response with patients and their families; while coordinating
with their dialysis clinic, nephrologist, and other healthcare providers. The
KidneyTel system includes advanced clinical algorithms and care pathways using
evidence based medicine. 

"Our objective is to keep ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease) patients healthier, out
of the hospital, and at home resulting in a better quality of life for patients
and reduced cost to their payers. The telehealth platform which KidneyTel
utilizes has been deployed in the heart failure, diabetes and chronic disease
populations over the past several years with excellent results. In addition, the
technology has been a success with kidney patients over the past three years in
the Fresenius Medical Care Health Plan (a Medicare Advantage CSNP), within the
CMS ESRD Demonstration Project," stated Stephen McMurray, M.D., Medical Director
for the KidneyTel program and Fresenius Medical Care Health Plan. 

Our customers can have confidence in the quality and value of this program. The
KidneyTel integrated care program is fully accredited by both NCQA (National
Committee for Quality Assurance) and URAC (Utilization Review Accreditation
Commission) for disease management. 

Health Plans interested in improving the quality of patient care and reducing
costly hospitalizations by providing KidneyTel for your members please contact
Dave Tigue, VP Sales and Marketing, at 781-699-2830. 

Kidney patients, dialysis clinics and nephrologists interested in the KidneyTel
program please contact Jeanne Karalus, Marketing Manager, at 781-699-2811 to
request an informational brochure. 

For more information regarding this press release please contact:

 Robert Farrell                              
 President                                   
 Integrated Care Management                  
 Fresenius Medical CareNorth America         
 781-699-2813 or1-800-662-1237 X2813         
 About Fresenius Medical Care North America  


Fresenius Medical Care is the world's largest integrated provider of products
and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney
failure, a condition that affects more than 1,770,000 individuals worldwide.
Through its network of 2,471 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin
America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis
treatment to 190,081 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also
the world's leading provider of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines,
dialyzers and related disposable products. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on
the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME, FME3) and the New York Stock Exchange (FMS,
FMS/P). 

For more information about Fresenius Medical Care, visit the company`s websites:
www.fmcna.com or www.fmc-ag.com. 

For more information about the KidneyTel program visit the company`s website:
www.kidneytel.com

For more information about Fresenius Medical Care Health Plan visit the
company`s website: www.fmchp.com





Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA
Investor Relations:
North America:
Terry L. Morris, + 1 800 948 2538
Fax: + 1 615 345 5605
E-mail: ir@fmc-ag.com
Internet: www.fmc-ag.com



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