Kaiser Permanente Becomes Graphite Health Organizing Member | Healthcare Innovation
In October 2021, a new member-led nonprofit company called Graphite Health was announced, with the stated goal of creating a standardized, interoperable data platform to streamline the distribution of digital health solutions. Now Kaiser Permanente has joined the first three organizing members, SSM Health, Presbyterian Healthcare Services and Intermountain Healthcare.
“Kaiser Permanente is committed to improving healthcare in the U.S., and our decision to join Graphite Health reflects another step we’re taking to further that mission,” said Greg Adams, Kaiser Permanente chair and CEO, in a statement. “Graphite Health is tackling some of the most pressing issues in healthcare today, making it easier to adopt digital health tools with a focus on trust and transparency. By joining Graphite Health now, we are excited to help shape the future of digital health transformation, and to improve patient and member experience at Kaiser Permanente and beyond.”
Health system members of Graphite have a voice in the company’s direction and receive technology solutions designed for and by them along with the resources required to onboard and adopt these new capabilities. Prat Vemana, Kaiser Permanente’s senior vice president and chief digital officer, will join the board of Graphite Health.
Graphite said it is building on a common data language to create a platform that enables a secure and open marketplace to streamline the distribution of digital health solutions for both health systems and entrepreneurs. For entrepreneurs, the common data language addresses inefficiencies in data translation and supports the development of plug-and-play digital applications, the company said. In turn, health system members can implement trusted digital tools as easily as anyone can download an app from an app store to a smartphone.
Ries Robinson, M.D., chief innovation advisor at Presbyterian Healthcare Services, serves as CEO of Graphite Health. In December 2021, Graphite announced that Ryan Smith, vice president and chief information officer of Intermountain Healthcare, would become its new chief operating officer. In addition to his role at Intermountain, Smith has also served as senior vice president and executive advisor at Health Catalyst and senior vice president and chief information officer at Banner Health. Smith will continue to serve as CIO of Intermountain through first quarter 2022 as he ramps up in his new position at Graphite Health.
Stanley Huff, M.D., chief medical informatics officer at Intermountain, will also join Graphite Health. Intermountain is licensing its medical informatics intellectual property to Graphite Health free of charge.
Modeled on Civica Rx, a health utility company, Graphite Health said it is creating a standardized, interoperable data platform that enables a secure and open marketplace to streamline the distribution of digital health solutions for both health systems and entrepreneurs. Fundamental to Graphite Health’s vision is the Digital Hippocratic Oath, which serves as the ethical compass that guides all operations, including their approach to data sharing, integration, and technical processes.
Graphite Health said it anticipates bringing additional healthcare systems and philanthropies into its coalition in the coming months, as well as partnering with technology innovators and growing its team.