Kaiser Permanente is now the fourth organizing member of Graphite Health, which aims to enable a secure and open digital health tool marketplace through the establishment of an interoperable data platform.  

In doing so, Kaiser joins SSM Health, Presbyterian Healthcare Services and Intermountain Healthcare.  

"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," Kaiser Permanente Chair and CEO Greg A. Adams said in a statement.   

"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," Adams added.  

WHY IT MATTERS  

Implementing new software can be a years-long process, meaning – as Graphite notes on its website – that systems need to commit fully to a digital strategy before they can meaningfully use it.   

To address that need, Graphite Health says its goals are threefold.  

It plans to form a like-minded collective of members before creating an interoperable health utility platform, built on a common data language. This, in turn, will support the development of plug-and-play apps.  

The platform will enable an app marketplace geared toward offering health systems and entrepreneurs a place to distribute and implement trusted tools.  

According to Graphite, health system members – like Kaiser – have a voice in the company's direction, along with the opportunity to obtain technology designed for and by them.  

"We know that by working together to address interoperability at scale, we can create more convenience, better quality care and lower costs," Dr. Ries Robinson, CEO of Graphite Health, said in a statement. "That's why we are thrilled to add Kaiser Permanente to Graphite Health's growing list of member systems."  

THE LARGER TREND  

This is Kaiser's second big move this week toward the future of digital health. On Monday, the acute-care-at-home startup Medically Home announced that Kaiser had contributed to its latest funding round, which brought in $110 million in investments.  

The organization has also put hundreds of thousands of dollars toward telehealth at a local level and launched a "virtual-first" health plan in some states.  

ON THE RECORD  

"As Kaiser Permanente is nationally known for their innovative approach, we look forward to working closely with them to digitally transform and improve health care, and ultimately, to help patients and members across the country live better, healthier lives," said Graphite's Robinson.

Kat Jercich is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Twitter: @kjercich
Email: kjercich@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.