DaVita HealthCare Partners, a U.S. innovative healthcare community, has announced that two of its business units, DaVita Clinical Research (DCR) and HealthCare Partners Clinical Research, will merge capabilities to further expand its clinical research and data analytics services, specifically in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), as well as primary care and chronic disease patients treated in an integrated care organization.

The merger allows the two research organizations to offer comprehensive data analytics capabilities on the longitudinal, de-identified data of approximately one million active patients receiving care at DaVita HealthCare Partners centers, including 170,000 U.S. dialysis patients receiving care from DaVita Kidney Care and 836,000 multi-specialty patients receiving coordinated, integrated care from HealthCare Partners.

"Since 1997, DaVita Clinical Research has been a leader in kidney-related trials, epidemiology and data analytics, resulting in better patient outcomes," said Amy Young, vice president and general manager of DaVita Clinical Research. "Our clients appreciate the unique understanding of patient populations that a health care provider-based CRO like DCR can deliver."
Biopharmaceutical and medical device developers can gain insights through access to the analytics capabilities and understanding of patient data unique to a healthcare provider-based CRO.

"HealthCare Partners' extensive patient database is diverse and reflects real-world evidence in an integrated care organization," said Riya Pulicharam, M.D., medical director of late phase research and clinical outcomes at HealthCare Partners Clinical Research. "We have conducted clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas for more than 10 years, and combining our clinical research and data analytics capabilities with DCR greatly enhances our ability to meet additional clients' needs."

The combined entity's capabilities—which include claims, pharmacy and electronic health record data analysis—offer strategic advantages primed to benefit recipients of its services. The combined organization's assets will help boost research-study enrollment and retention. The combined entity offers access to nearly a million primary care and multi-specialty patients, as well as 280,000 CKD and ESRD patients, expanding the breadth and depth of the research being conducted.