July 10, 2008 - The entire, unedited, 41-page report of the state survey completed May 13th on the DaVita Lufkin Dialysis Center is available on The Lufkin Daily News web site.

July 8, 2008 - Nineteen patient deaths occurred at DaVita Lufkin Dialysis in a five-month period ending in April before its temporary closure, according to a survey released Monday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through an open records request. Article from The Lufkin Daily News.

Editorial from The Lufkin Daily News.

Related article from AP via Yahoo.

July 2, 2008 - DaVita Lufkin Dialysis Center reopened its doors Wednesday morning for the first time in two months, treating nine patients as it works with state health officials in a phased reopening. Family members of a deceased patient picketed outside. Article from The Lufkin Daily News.

Video 1 and video 2 from The Lufkin Daily News.

July 1, 2008 - After being closed more than nine weeks because of patient health complications, DaVita Lufkin Dialysis will reopen for patient care Wednesday, a company spokesman confirmed Monday. Article from The Lufkin Daily News.

"The findings of a state survey conducted in mid-May were released Monday to The Lufkin Daily News through an open records request. The survey is 40 pages total with most of the information they contain blacked out, the state citing what it feels are exceptions to open records rules. Nothing is visible about what deficiencies were cited at the facility. Some portions of the corrective action plan portion of the survey were also blacked out."

Additional article from AP via MSN Money.

June 21, 2008 - A former nurse of the DaVita Lufkin Dialysis center said it was common practice when she worked there to measure bleach in a syringe for sterilizing equipment at the facility. Article from The Lufkin Daily News.

June 19, 2008 - Criminal allegations against a former Davita nurse are unprecedented in the dialysis industry, said company officials who are working with state health officials to reopen the Lufkin center. Article from The Lufkin Daily News.


June 3, 2008 - The state health department will require a Lufkin dialysis center to appoint four staff monitors to its facility before it can be approved for reopening, according to a letter from the state to the facility. Article from The Lufkin Daily News.

AP report via KTRE.com.

This story now has 35 pages of reader comments (as of June 3).

May 30, 2008 - Lufkin police have charged a former DaVita nurse for allegedly injecting two patients with bleach, causing the patients to suffer health complications, said a police spokesman. Article from The Lufkin Daily News.

The May 26th article also now has 5 pages of reader comments.

Additional article from AP via Yahoo.

May 26, 2008 - Several "town hall" meetings held at DaVita's Lufkin Dialysis Center 18 months ago did not address health issues or solve staffing problems about which several patients and their family members had complained, said a patient who requested the meetings. Article from The Lufkin Daily News.

May 22, 2008 - Here is the latest local TV news coverage of the investigation of patient deaths at DaVita Dialysis Center in Lufkin, Texas by KETKNBC.com.

Latest AP report via the Fort Worth Star Telegram. (link is no longer available)

May 21, 2008 - On May 20, a DaVita spokesman said the company suspects four patient deaths at its dialysis clinic in Lufkin to be caused by a former employee. Article from The Lufkin Daily News.

In a new twist, the husband of a DaVita Dialysis Center of Lufkin patient who died in April has raised the possibility that her death was due to contaminated heparin. Article from KETKNBC.com.

May 20, 2008 - DaVita's Lufkin Dialysis Center in 2007 did not have the required number of properly trained personnel present to meet the needs of patients, according to a state health survey conducted nearly a year ago. Article from The Lufkin Daily News.

Here is the full inspection report from 2007.

May 17, 2008 - A police investigation into a recent spike in patient deaths at the DaVita Lufkin Dialysis Center is believed to be the result of a criminal act by an employee who has since been fired, a company spokesman said Friday. Story from Lufkin Daily News.

May 15, 2008 - State health officials have concluded their investigation into DaVita Lufkin Dialysis following a recent spike in patient deaths, a state spokeswoman said Wednesday. Article from Lufkin Daily News. (link is no longer available)

A report from the Texas Department of State Health Services is expected to be released in the next few weeks. However, the Lufkin Police Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are continuing with their own investigations.

May 8, 2008 - A new editorial and background article appeared today in the Lufkin Daily News.

May 6, 2008 - Texas officials have decided to expand the investigation of Lufkin DaVita Dialysis from 30 days to 18 months. The facility is expected to be shut down a minimum of 45 days while investigations are carried out. Article from Lufkin Daily News. (Link is no longer available)

May 3, 2008 - An editorial in the Lufkin Daily News complains of the lack of information that has been made available to date.

April 30, 2008 - A spike in deaths at DaVita Dialysis Center in Lufkin, Texas has resulted in the clinic be closed and more than 100 patients being displaced. Article from Lufkin Daily News. (link is no longer available)

An article from KTRE in Lufkin outlines patients' frustrations in finding alternative dialysis centers. According to the article, DaVita would not go on camera to tell the local TV audience what was being done to assist patients.

April 29, 2008 - First report from KTRE on the closing of DaVita Dialysis Center in Lufkin, Texas.

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