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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, May 15, 2009 9:26 PM CDT
Mattoon DaVita
volunteers donate time to patients on dialysis

MATTOON — Local residents Judy Key and Gayle Orrell have become members of the DaVita Mattoon community through their work as Village Greeter volunteers, according to a DaVita press release.

Village Greeters are dedicated volunteers who improve patients’ dialysis experience and add warmth to the center. They have been Village Greeters at DaVita Mattoon since March 2009 and have dedicated several hours of their time to the patients and caregivers at the dialysis center. They like to assure that the lobby is always festive for the holidays, and assure that the patients birthdays are always a special occasion during their time at the center. They became involved at the center because both of their husbands are on dialysis at the center.

“The patients and caregivers here at DaVita Mattoon have made us really feel like part of their community,” said Key and Orrell. “We are able to make a positive impact on patients’ experiences and it always puts a smile on our faces to be here.”

DaVita created the Village Greeter volunteer program to enhance the caring community atmosphere it works to foster in every center. Village Greeters provide assistance to caregivers in the center and contribute to the positive atmosphere by engaging patients in fun activities and bringing levity to their time on dialysis.

DaVita believes that a healthy, caring community environment can improve the health care patient experience.

“I have to be here to keep healthy but Gayle and Judy choose to be here with us,” said Sara, a patient at DaVita Mattoon. “Our center really is like a neighborhood and they make dialysis feel like a visit with neighbors.”

DaVita is a registered trademark of DaVita Inc.

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