The Beat

HLTH: Jim Kirby on Transforming Healthcare: Integrating Food, Pharmacy, and Health at Kroger

Episode Summary

Integrating health services into retail through a holistic approach that aligns food, pharmacy, and healthcare improves consumer health outcomes. In the latest episode, Jim Kirby, Chief Commercial Officer at Kroger Health, discusses how Kroger is integrating health services into their stores. He emphasizes a holistic approach that combines food, pharmacy, and healthcare to improve consumer health. Kirby shares a personal story to highlight the importance of understanding a patient's overall health needs, including diet. He also discusses Kroger Health's strategies, such as a food health score, to guide healthier choices and potentially reduce healthcare costs. Tune in now to gain valuable insights and be inspired by how holistic health approaches can transform healthcare delivery!

Episode Notes

About James Kirby:

James Kirby is a dedicated and innovative leader in the healthcare industry, currently serving as the Chief Commercial Officer at Kroger Health. With a PharmD and a board certification in pharmacotherapy, James is committed to integrating health services into retail environments to enhance consumer health outcomes. At Kroger Health, he spearheads the Food as Medicine strategy, promoting a holistic approach that aligns food, pharmacy, and healthcare. His personal journey and professional expertise drive his passion for creating a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem that addresses the overall health needs of individuals. James is also an adjunct professor, and a Fellow of the American Pharmacists Association, and actively contributes to advancing healthcare through strategic partnerships and industry collaboration.

Things You’ll Learn:

  1. Discover how Kroger Health is leveraging its extensive network of stores, including pharmacies and convenient care clinics, to integrate health services into retail environments.
  2. Learn about the importance of aligning food, pharmacy, and healthcare services to enhance consumer health outcomes through a holistic approach.
  3. Gain insights from Jim Kirby's personal story, which underscores the need to understand a patient's overall health needs, including dietary habits, for better health management.
  4. Find out how Kroger Health is implementing strategies like a food health score to guide customers toward healthier food choices and potentially reduce healthcare costs.
  5. Explore the potential for a national nutrition security measure, involving both health and retail sectors, to improve health outcomes on a national level.

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