Fresenius Medical Care Salutes Cleveland Dialysis Patient

‘Champion in Motion’ Award Recognizes Commitment to Exercise and Healthy Diet

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Sept. 24, 2013 – Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the nation’s leading network of dialysis facilities, today announced that Michael Matthews at Fresenius Medical Care Ohio Renal Care Group East, located in Cleveland, has been selected to receive the company’s “Champion in Motion” award for 2013. FMCNA’s second annual Champion in Motion awards recognize dialysis patients who have made a commitment to regular physical activity, which can be anything from walking, running or swimming to riding a bike, lifting weights or even square dancing.

Michael, who has been receiving dialysis treatments for nine years, was selected as a Champion in Motion because he lifts weights, swims, uses an elliptical trainer and participates in Zumba exercise classes. During the summer, he rides a bicycle to and from his dialysis treatments – a five-mile round trip.

FMCNA is honoring 20 dialysis patients nationwide, from ages 27 to 88, as part of its Healthy Lifestyle initiative, which aims to help people with kidney failure live better lives on dialysis by encouraging them to exercise and maintain healthy diets. Outstanding patients from each region were nominated by FMCNA healthcare teams across the U.S., and the final selections were made by a committee representing the company’s various medical disciplines. Local clinical care teams are recognizing the award winners throughout the fall with certificates and rosettes. Their stories will also be featured on ultracare-dialysis.com.

“[Exercise] gives you something to occupy your mind other than being on dialysis,” Michael says. “After sitting in the dialysis chair for treatments, it helps to get your body circulating and your muscles working again.”

Regular exercise is associated with numerous health benefits, including stronger muscles and heart; increased joint flexibility; improved circulation, digestion and sleep; and better control of blood pressure and body weight. That’s why FMCNA encourages its dialysis patients to work with their clinics’ healthcare teams – including nephrologists, nephrology nurses, social workers and dietitians – to create an exercise program tailored to their specific needs and fitness level.

“Physical activity is important for anyone with chronic kidney disease, including those with end-stage renal disease, who require either dialysis or a kidney transplant,” said Dugan W. Maddux, M.D., FACP and vice president of Chronic Kidney Disease Initiatives at FMCNA. “Many patients on dialysis find that they feel better if they get regular exercise, and part of our jobs as renal professionals is to help patients find activities that are right for them, no matter what level of activity they may be used to. Everyone can do something.”

Through its Healthy Lifestyle initiative, FMCNA is also promoting the benefits of healthy diets and good nutrition, which are important considerations for all dialysis patients. To support its healthy nutrition campaign, FMCNA has partnered with Food Network Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr. Throughout 2013, Chef McCargo is developing new dialysis-friendly recipes, attending patient events, and promoting healthy diets that include tasty, satisfying meals for people with kidney failure.

Patients can find fitness tips, videos and other information about staying active and maintaining a healthy diet on FMCNA’s website:www.ultracare-dialysis.com.

About Fresenius Medical Care North America

Through our leading network of more than 2,150 dialysis facilities in North America and our vascular access centers, laboratory, pharmacy and affiliated hospitals and nephrology practices, Fresenius Medical Care provides renal services to hundreds of thousands of people throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. We are also the continent’s top producer of dialysis equipment, dialyzers and related disposable products and a major supplier of renal pharmaceuticals.

For more information about the company, visit www.fmcna.com; for information about patient services, visit www.ultracare-dialysis.com.