MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) today announced the launch of Prevention is Power™, a multi-year public health awareness campaign from the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Inc. (HSCF) to help improve health literacy and strengthen patient utilization of integrated, preventive care, with the goal of reducing incidences of chronic diseases as well as overall health care spending. HSCF is a philanthropic vehicle that advocates and supports efforts to advance health equity and empower health care professionals to promote a healthier tomorrow.
The need for concerted action is clear. According to studies by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Commonwealth Fund, and others, despite spending more on health care than any other high-income country, overall health outcomes in the U.S. trail those in its peer countries. It is well established that patient utilization of routine preventive health care leads to better population health outcomes as well as lower overall health care costs. Yet too few Americans are benefitting from this systemic approach to care. A recent HSCF-commissioned poll of 2,000 Americans found that 64% of respondents only go to a physician or dentist when something feels “extremely wrong,” 53% said it is difficult to access health care, and 35% felt more information and education about the importance of screenings and routine care would be beneficial.
“The great power of integrated care is that it recognizes each patient as a unique series of interconnected systems — medical, dental, and mental health — that each contribute to that individual’s overall health and wellbeing,” said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein, Inc. “By shifting the mindset away from one in which people only go to the doctor when feeling sick, to one in which people regularly access a continuum of preventive health care, we can help reduce health disparities, promote equity, and create healthier communities.”
To achieve the campaign’s goals, HSCF is partnering with a diverse cross-section of leading medical and dental provider associations, including the American Dental Association (ADA), American Medical Association (AMA), National Medical Association (NMA), The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), and other trusted organizations.
The campaign is kicking off with the Prevention is Power Health Care Screening Program, in partnership with NACHC, through which HSCF will provide grants and health care product donations to six community health centers across the U.S.: CHEMED Health (Lakewood, New Jersey), Portland Community Health Center (Portland, Maine), Lamprey Health Care (Newmarket, New Hampshire), Northeast Valley Health Corporation (San Fernando, California), Neighborhood Health (Nashville, Tennessee), and Zufall Health (Dover, New Jersey).
HSCF will also identify and support incentives and strategies to promote patient engagement with wellness visits and screening services. As non-communicable diseases disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations, community health centers are key partners in Prevention is Power’s efforts to promote screening services and preventive care for these individuals.
In addition, HSCF has partnered with the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy Foundation which, with a team of graduate students, will collect data from participating community health centers and evaluate the impact and efficacy of the Health Care Screening Program.
In the second phase of the program, expected to launch in Q4 2024, Prevention is Power will develop and implement pilot programs to bring new patients to regular primary care and oral care. These pilot programs, in targeted geographies, will use an agile approach by testing and measuring the impact of various public health awareness outreach models to different populations. The campaign will also provide tools for clinicians in private practice and larger health systems. Mr. Bergman noted, “Through a rigorous set of programs and pilots, Prevention is Power seeks to develop best practices for generating improved patient engagement and increased utilization of routine preventive care.”
Quotes from Prevention is Power Campaign Partners
Linda Edgar, D.D.S., President of the American Dental Association: “The ADA is pleased to partner on the Prevention is Power campaign to foster greater understanding of the crucial connection between oral health and overall health for both providers and patients. Together, we will promote the importance of maintaining routine medical and dental primary care and other screenings to identify and help reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases. Ensuring that oral care is prioritized as an integral part of overall primary health care is crucial to improving overall health equity and outcomes.”
Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, President and CEO of NACHC: “As the largest primary care network in America, Community Health Centers serve 31.5 million underserved and uninsured people in nearly 15,000 rural, urban, and frontier communities. Expanding access to oral health is an essential part of the health center mission and NACHC is excited to partner with the Henry Schein Cares Foundation to advance health equity through the health center model of integrated preventive health care and help reduce the unequal burden of chronic disease to promote better overall health.”
Aletha Maybank, MD, MPH, Chief Health Equity Officer and Senior Vice President of the American Medical Association: “Chronic disease is a leading cause of death in the U.S. and a leading driver of the nation’s health care costs. In alignment with our Release the Pressure Campaign and Coalition to address hypertension amongst black women, we are now collaborating with the Prevention is Power public health awareness campaign to encourage more people to get regular preventive care, which is key to preventing cardiovascular disease, improving blood pressure control rates, and improving health outcomes and ultimately, the health of the nation.”
Joy Calloway, MBA, MHSA, Executive Director of the National Medical Association: “Prevention is Power aligns with NMA’s mission to eliminate health disparities and improve health outcomes for patients of medically underserved communities, particularly those of African descent. This program will help raise awareness among both providers and patients of the importance of integrated primary care in meeting those goals.”
Dr. Kathleen Reeves, President and CEO of Gold Foundation: “All people deserve access to preventive care and screenings. Not only is such care critical for addressing health concerns early, but regular interaction with health care professionals helps build trust and connection, which form the basis for humanistic care. The Gold Foundation, which champions the human connection in health care, is proud to partner with the Henry Schein Cares Foundation to expand access and address health inequities.”
Dr. Ayman El-Mohandes, Dean of CUNY SPH: “We are thrilled to partner with two impactful organizations, the Henry Schein Cares Foundation and NACHC, in this important work aimed at improving patient outcomes through education and engagement. I am especially grateful for this opportunity for our esteemed Dr. Michael Apa Scholarship recipients to gain valuable experience in this effort to improve oral health at the community level.”
About The Henry Schein Cares Foundation
Established in 2008, The Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Inc., fosters a rich culture of giving back to society and serving others. The Foundation advocates and supports efforts to advance health equity and empower health care professionals to promote a healthier tomorrow for all people around the world through advancing access to care, promoting a holistic model of health care, building capacity to empower health care professionals, and catalyzing innovative models for emergency preparedness & response.
The Foundation is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. To learn more about the work of the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, visit www.henryschein.com/hscaresfoundation.
About Henry Schein, Inc.
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a solutions company for health care professionals powered by a network of people and technology. With approximately 24,000 Team Schein Members worldwide, the Company's network of trusted advisors provides more than 1 million customers globally with more than 300 valued solutions that help improve operational success and clinical outcomes. Our Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chain solutions help office-based dental and medical practitioners work more efficiently so they can provide quality care more effectively. These solutions also support dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, as well as other alternate care sites.
Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 300,000 branded products and Henry Schein corporate brand products in our distribution centers.
A FORTUNE 500 Company and a member of the S&P 500® index, Henry Schein is headquartered in Melville, N.Y., and has operations or affiliates in 33 countries and territories. The Company's sales reached $12.6 billion in 2022, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 12.1 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995.
For more information, visit Henry Schein at www.henryschein.com, Facebook.com/HenrySchein, Instagram.com/HenrySchein, and @HenrySchein on X.
