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Fresenius Medical Care Announces 2006 Disaster Preparedness Plan to Ensure Vital Dialysis Care for Patients During Hurricanes

Posted on: Monday, 17 July 2006, 09:01 CDT

Fresenius Medical Care North America, operators of the nation's largest network of dialysis clinics, today released details of its 2006 Disaster Planning and Response Plan. Each year the company updates their capabilities based on previous year experiences. The program is designed to provide life-sustaining dialysis care for kidney failure patients in the event of a disaster, including during the 2006 hurricane season, which runs June through November.

Patients with chronic kidney failure typically need dialysis every two days; any substantial delay in dialysis care can be life-threatening. Under its Disaster Planning and Response Plan, Fresenius Medical Care is prepared to accommodate any dialysis patient - including non-Fresenius Medical Care patients - who require treatment during a disaster. The plan, which involves coordination with the Federal and State agencies, national, regional and local emergency response teams and scores of doctors, nurses and company employees, includes the following key elements:

-- Patient Disaster Hotline: 1 (800) 626-1297. The 24-hour hotline, staffed by experienced dialysis customer service specialists who deal with patients every day, will answer questions and direct patients and their families to the nearest open facility during an emergency.

-- Distribution of disaster preparedness information packets, which include patient-specific medical information.

-- Emergency power, back-up medical equipment and water tankers to help bring affected Fresenius Medical Care clinics back to operations quickly.

-- Pre-established procedures and clear lines of communications to coordinate national, regional and local teams.

-- Trailers and RVs to temporarily house employees during a disaster.

"Preparedness saves lives. With our plan, our goals are simple: make sure every patient has access to quality dialysis care and return affected clinics to full operations as quickly as possible," said Bill Numbers, vice president of operations support for Fresenius Medical Care and director of the Disaster Planning and Response Plan.

Fresenius Medical Care North America is able to ensure vital dialysis care for patients during hurricanes and other natural disasters based on two key factors: an extensive offering of industry-leading dialysis products and services and strong leadership teams comprising experts in supply chain management and disaster relief planning.

"We have the largest network of dialysis clinics in the country, which means the chances are good that there will be a Fresenius Medical Care clinic available to provide life-sustaining dialysis treatments to displaced patients in the event of a disaster," Numbers said. "As the nation's leading renal laboratory, manufacturer and distributor of dialysis machines and supplies, we have all the essential resources our patients need during a natural disasters.

"For example, our nationwide telephone call center and extensive warehousing and distribution network give us the flexibility to provide alternative communication and supply routes, and assist in delivery of emergency water and fuel, if necessary. These resources contribute immeasurably to our ability to restore services disrupted by disasters, as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Last year, following the devastation left by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Fresenius Medical Care assisted more than 8,000 dialysis patients, 1,600 of whom were non-Fresenius Medical Care patients. In total, more than 100 of Fresenius Medical Care's clinics were affected by the storms, 80 of which were restored to operational status within the first 48 hours.

About Fresenius Medical Care North America

Fresenius Medical Care North America is a subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, 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 1,400,000 individuals worldwide. Through its network of approximately 2,045 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to approximately 158,700 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's U.S. network of more than 1,500 dialysis facilities, visit the Company's website at www.ultracare-dialysis.com. For more information about Fresenius Medical Care, visit the Company's websites: www.fmcna.com or www.fmc-ag.com.

Source: Business Wire

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