There are numerous digital solutions on the market, but it's currently difficult for health care systems to adopt them. Health systems spend up to two years on average implementing new apps; negotiating the contracts and evaluating the security protocols alone can take more than six months. This impractical process means systems have to fully commit to the adoption of a new digital tool long before they can make meaningful use of it. Graphite Health will overcome these challenges through the collective power, scale, knowledge, and commitment of its health system members.

"The promise of digital transformation to reduce real human suffering is too big to quibble over definitions and silos. It is a collective problem that requires collective action," said Carter Dredge, lead futurist of SSM Health. "We're addressing this market failure through a novel utility model that spreads the costs and efforts across a broad set of like-minded stakeholders so everyone can lift together—so everyone can benefit."


Graphite Health anticipates bringing additional health care systems and philanthropies into their coalition in the coming months, as well as partnering with leading technology innovators. Because one system alone cannot effectively drive the change needed, Graphite Health mirrors Civica Rx's member-led, collective approach, which empowers the systems to scale their resources and own their transformations. In just two and a half years, Civica Rx has organized over a third of U.S. hospitals to ensure quality medicines are accessible and affordable to everyone.

Graphite Health operates as a non-profit company and its governance structure also prioritizes purpose over profit. The Board, composed of executives from the organizing health system members along with independent industry experts, serves the common interests of Graphite Health members and provides oversight. Members contribute to the company and commit to utilizing Graphite Health tools and technology. In return, members have a voice in the company's direction and will benefit from the innovations ultimately deployed through the open Graphite Marketplace, along with the resources required to more easily onboard and adopt these new capabilities.

Graphite Health's board of directors includes Dr. Ries Robinson, CEO of Graphite Health; Dale Maxwell, President and CEO of Presbyterian Healthcare Services; Dan Liljenquist, Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer at Intermountain Healthcare and Board Chair of Civica RX; and Carter Dredge, Senior Vice President & Lead Futurist at SSM Health.

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