Kaiser Permanente and Tufts University have launched a joint initiative aimed at improving nutritional and dietary health, the organizations said Thursday.
The Food is Medicine National Network of Excellence comprises Tufts University's Food is Medicine Institute in Medford, Massachusetts, and Oakland, California-headquarterd Kaiser, along with network members such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, CVS Health, Devoted Health, Elevance Health, Geisinger Health and Highmark Health.
Related: Food-is-medicine programs gain speed amid funding concerns
Network members will track patient outcomes following nutritional and dietary changes and use the data to instruct care delivery and promote food-is-medicine initiatives, according to a news release.
Kaiser introduced a food-is-medicine hub last April to expand screening for individuals at risk of food and nutrition insecurity. Members are assessed for social determinants of health during pre-visit evaluations, Dr. Nancy Gin, executive vice president of quality and chief quality officer for The Permanente Federation, said at the time.
In April, Kaiser also announced plans to strengthen clinician nutrition training through its graduate medical education programs at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and continuing education for physicians and staff. The initiatives received support from former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
The health system has also partnered with Instacart to evaluate patient outcomes based on grocery intake.
At the start of 2024, HHS partnered with Instacart, Feeding America and the Rockefeller Foundation to expand food-as-medicine programs.
