DaVita.

• Author: Cote, Mike
• Position: HEALTH CARE - Report

IT DOESNIT SOUND LIKE A PROMISING BUSLNESS model when the CEO says one of the company's primary goals is to have fewer people need its services.

Kent 'Ibiry likely won't see his company move toward that goal any time soon. 'I'he libriune 500 dnilysis company takes care of about one of every three of the 350,000 dialysis patients in America.

"Unfortunately we're still a growth industry, fueled by diabetes and hypertension primarily which are growing throughout America," Thiry says. "We have that basic demand growing because of all the diabetics and hypertensives out there and the aging of America. That's one of the big drivers."

Nearly 85 percent of DaVita's patients pay for their treatment through Medicare and Medicaid. Thiry said. Thus, the growing federal deficit and the potential changes in health-care payments have him concerned.

"To the extent we start losing reimbursement there, it gets difficult for us to do a good job," he says.

At DaVita, Thiry is also known as the "mayor of DaVita Village," a title that alludes to its homespun and collaborative nature. The company, whose name, logo and core values were selected by-its employees, has been named four years running to Wm IdBLU's Most Democratic Workplaces list.

"Every eight weeks we have a Voice of the Village call, where I get on the phone with a lot of senior folks," Thiry says. "There are about 2,500 people on each of those calls scattered around America. They get an update and ask any question that they want. And everybody gets to hear how the leadership answers those questions."

DaVita is building a 14-story headquarters at Denver's Union Station that will house 900 employees when it opens late next year. Its growing presence in Colorado and decision to move its corporate office here is regularly touted by political and business leaders as the brand of economic development Colorado needs to attract.

"We chose (Denver) after a whole lot of thinking, not only for...