Kaiser Permanente launched a Food is Medicine Center of Excellence on Thursday, expanding the health system’s food and nutrition screening methods, research, partnerships and clinical nutrition training, according to a news release.
The new center adds to the growth of food-is-medicine programs across the nation. The Oakland, California-based system's center includes a research hub to analyze the results of food-is-medicine programs and spur more initiatives.
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The new center also plans to expand its screening process for those who may be at risk of food and nutrition insecurity by evaluating all members for social determinants of health during pre-visit assessments, Dr. Nancy Gin, executive vice president of quality and chief quality officer for The Permanente Federation, said Friday.
Kaiser also plans to bolster clinician nutrition training through the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, graduate medical education for residents and fellows as well as continuing medical education for current physicians and staff.
“As a central clearinghouse for all things related to Food Is Medicine — including information, training, job aids, and FAQs — the Center of Excellence will support frontline clinicians and care teams with the highest-standard of information, programs and tools for treating and preventing diet-related diseases with food-based interventions to support the food and nutrition security of our patients,” said Pam Schwartz, executive director for community health at Kaiser Permanente. “This includes expanding clinical nutrition training for health professionals, medical curricula and nutrition fellowships."
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra endorsed the new center.
President Joe Biden's administration "will continue to raise public awareness that food is medicine to ensure every American ultimately has access to healthy food,” Becerra said.
Kaiser, a network of hospitals, providers and insurance plans, has been a major player in the recent boom of food-is-medicine initiatives, most recently partnering with Instacart, a food delivery service, to determine patient health outcomes tied to the convenience of receiving healthier groceries.
With more healthcare providers and insurers adding to their food-is-medicine strategies, Kaiser is in good company.
Last June, Elevance Health hired its first food-as-medicine director, Dr. Kofi Essel, to grow its own program.
In October, Alignment Health, a health insurance startup, also struck a deal with Instacart to offer grocery delivery services for those who signed up for Medicare Advantage policies in the new year to offer additional food-is-medicine services to its beneficiaries.
