This week continues How success happens, I spoke with Kwamane Liddell, founding father of ThriveLink, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to help families access programs like medical health insurance, food stamps and utility assistance. Beginning his profession in health care as a nurse, Liddell’s unique perspective on the needs of disadvantaged communities inspired him to create solutions that bridge the gap between health care access and the social determinants of health.
You can listen to our entire conversation above, and I drew three key takeaways below. I hope you discover as much inspiration in Liddell’s journey as I did.
Turning personal experience into advocacy
Liddell shares how witnessing health disparities led him to a deep understanding of public health issues. His connection to health care inequities led him to innovate and support disadvantaged communities.
“I was a nurse manager at Alameda Health System and I saw many patients who lost their lives because they were feeling well, not because they needed better health care,” he says. “We lowered their blood pressure or helped them control their diabetes. It’s easy. But they had to be able to afford their medications when they left, or have access to healthy food, housing, things like that.”
Timestamp – 00:45–01:24
The impact of ThriveLink
Liddell shared a moving story of a patient who benefited greatly from ThriveLink services, illustrating the profound impact that available health care resources can have on individuals and communities.
“When we did our first pilot at Atrium Health in North Carolina, [a] the patient went to the doctor and had very serious clinical needs. But what she was most concerned about was the utility bill,” Liddell says. “She didn’t have money to pay it. During the pilot, the doctor gave her ThriveLink’s phone number. And without any additional work from the doctor or team, she was enrolled. She called the number and it enrolled her in a local utility program she didn’t know existed, and it paid her $519 utility bill.”
Timestamp – 23:59–24:53
Healthcare powered by artificial intelligence
Liddell shares how AI can dramatically reduce costs and expand service capabilities in community clinics across America, enabling ThriveLink to efficiently provide needed support to patients.
“At ThriveLink, we create AI phone bots that communicate with patients and enable them to verbally sign up for issues like food stamps, utility assistance, and even Medicaid, without having to use the internet or a phone number,” Liddell says. “With artificial intelligence, we can provide every community practice in America with affordable patient support and enrollment like never before. And that’s what we really focus on: building tools. We intend to continue creating tools in healthcare and beyond.”
Timestamp – 23:01–31:16