Indiana-based Community Health Network, which has 10 hospitals, is seeking to expand access to metabolic care and combat chronic disease through a partnership with Nourish, the the largest dietitian network in the country.
Despite strong evidence that nutrition counseling improves clinical outcomes and reduces total cost of care, fewer than 1% of Americans have ever worked with a registered dietitian, the partners said. Limited insurance coverage, fragmented referral pathways, and outdated care delivery models have historically prevented nutrition and behavior change from being integrated into routine care.
Through this partnership, the nonprofit Community Health Network will embed metabolic health support directly into its care model by integrating Nourish’s virtual, in-network service across multiple specialties such as primary care, cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, oncology, nephrology, and women’s health. Patients will be able to access care through their existing health benefits, typically with no out-of-pocket cost.
The collaboration enables providers to connect patients with registered dietitians seven days a week. Patients meet with dietitians virtually and stay on track in between sessions with a free, personalized, AI-powered app, according to Nourish.
“Metabolic health sits at the foundation of so many conditions we treat every day. We are excited to partner with Nourish to deliver consumer-focused metabolic care to our patients across Indiana,” said Patrick McGill, M.D., President and CEO of Community Health Network, in a statement. “Together, we are excited to bring an evidence-based, convenient, and personalized approach to care to the communities we serve.”
Historically, nutrition services have been concentrated in inpatient or acute settings, with limited outpatient options. At the same time, patient demand for metabolic health support continues to grow, especially with the rise of GLP-1 therapies.
Nourish said it addresses these challenges by partnering directly with health systems to extend metabolic care beyond traditional boundaries. With over 6,000 dietitians supporting more than 50 conditions, Nourish is designed to integrate within existing provider workflows and care teams to help health systems improve outcomes and access, lower costs, and unlock new, sustainable care models.
“We built Nourish to make metabolic health care accessible at scale with differentiated clinical outcomes and a consumer-centric patient experience,” said Aidan Dewar, CEO of Nourish, in a statement. “Community exemplifies what’s possible when a health system pairs strong clinical leadership with a consumer-forward mindset. Together, we’re demonstrating how metabolic care is foundational to modern healthcare delivery.”
