Kaiser Permanente launches large social health network

Health care system Kaiser Permanente is launching a new social health network to connect the organization’s 12 million members with social and community services. Thrive Local, a partnership between KP and social care coordination platform Unite Us, will begin this summer and allow health care providers to match an individual with public or private services they may need. Up to 29% of KP’s members deal with food insecurity, and another quarter are concerned with housing stability, the company said, two issues that the new network can help address. Thrive Local will be integrated into KP’s electronic health record system, but will also be accessible to other community organizations.