LAWRENCE, Mass., March 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To raise awareness of an underutilized treatment that can help kidney failure patients reclaim their lives and expect to live longer, NxStage Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTM), a leading medical technology company focused on advancing renal care, is celebrating the third annual Home Hemodialysis (HHD) Day on March 3, 2016. Annually observed during National Kidney Month, this initiative focuses on raising the awareness of home therapy as a treatment option for dialysis patients. In support of NxStage's efforts, Boston's iconic Zakim Bridge will be cast in a green light on the evening of March 3rd to commemorate Home Hemodialysis Day.

"We are proud to continue this tradition of generating awareness of home hemodialysis treatments and the NxStage System One for the third consecutive year," said Joseph Turk, President of NxStage. "Only 2% of dialysis patients are using this treatment method, which may help kidney patients reclaim their lives, live longer and be more likely to receive a transplant."

To raise awareness of home hemodialysis, NxStage is requesting patients and their care partners to share a short lyric video highlighting home hemodialysis to their social media channels. NxStage plans to match each online submission with $1.00 (up to $10,000.00) of support for kidney research, awareness and education.

"With this interactive social media campaign, NxStage has created a powerful tool to raise awareness of treatment options for dialysis patients," said Paul Dooley, CEO, MatchingDonors.com.  "MatchingDonors.com is also committed to improving awareness of live organ donation to help more people receive kidney transplants."

Home Hemodialysis Day serves as a day of education for potential home dialysis patients, alerting them to the benefits and advantages of using home therapies. For more information about the Home Hemodialysis Day, the social contest, or the System One, please visit www.facebook.com/NxStage or www.nxstage.com.

Despite the health benefits that home hemodialysis may provide to those with chronic kidney disease, this form of therapy is not for everyone. The reported benefits of home hemodialysis may not be experienced by all patients. The risks associated with hemodialysis treatments in any environment include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure, fluid overload, low blood pressure, heart-related issues, and vascular access complications. The medical devices used in hemodialysis therapies may add additional risks including air entering the bloodstream and blood loss due to clotting or accidental disconnection of the blood tubing set. Certain risks are unique to the home. Treatments at home are done without the presence of medical personnel and on-site technical support. Patients and their partners must be trained on what to do and how to get medical or technical help if needed.

About the NxStage System One
The NxStage System One is the first and only truly portable hemodialysis system cleared specifically by the FDA for home hemodialysis and home nocturnal hemodialysis. Its simplicity and revolutionary size (just over a foot tall) are intended to allow convenient use in patients' homes and give patients the freedom to travel with their therapy. When combined with the NxStage PureFlow SL Dialysis Preparation System, patients are able to further simplify, using ordinary tap water to create dialysis fluid on demand. Unlike conventional hemodialysis systems, the System One requires no special infrastructure to operate. Under the guidance of their physician, patients can use the NxStage System One, with their trained partners, where, how and when it best meets their needs, including while they are sleeping - at home or on vacation and at a medically appropriate treatment frequency. In addition,  NxStage's Nx2me Connected Health platform collects important NxStage System One and patient information  for flexible viewing, monitoring and reporting that may improve patient management and simplify alternative site care. http://www.nxstage.com/.

About NxStage Medical
NxStage Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTM) is a leading medical technology company, headquartered in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA, that develops, manufactures and markets innovative products for the treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and acute kidney failure. NxStage also has established a small number of dialysis clinics committed to the development of innovative care delivery models for patients with ESRD. For more information on NxStage and its products and services, please visit the Company's websites at www.nxstage.com and www.nxstagekidneycare.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this release that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking, and the words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors including those that are discussed in NxStage's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. NxStage is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:
Kristin Sheppard
ksheppard@nxstage.com

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SOURCE NxStage Medical, Inc.