MELVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, announced today the launch of its 2015 Healthy Lifestyles, Healthy Communities (HLHC) program, a flagship initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the Company's global corporate social responsibility program.
In partnership with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), the HLHC program enhances access to health care, prevention, and wellness for underserved communities by providing free medical and dental screenings at fun and engaging community events around the country.
This year, the program expects to serve approximately 8,700 children and their caregivers throughout the United States with free medical and dental services at 14 health fair events. Nine years ago, Henry Schein founded the HLHC program, which typically occurs in the late summer and fall.
Each health fair supported by HLHC receives a $5,000 in-kind donation and a $5,000 cash grant through the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization that works to enhance access to care globally. Since HLHC's inception, more than $700,000 in supplies and financial assistance have been donated to support nearly 80 health fair events. According to a NACHC study published in 2014, community health centers play a key role in the nation's health care system by providing continuous primary and preventive care, reducing the risk of new health care problems and saving the health care system $24 billion a year.
"Henry Schein recognizes the vital role of community health centers nationwide and the excellent care they offer those who would otherwise go without," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein. "The community health center model of care, which promotes high quality, affordable health care, aligns with our Company's strong commitment to help improve the health of all Americans. With the generous support of our supplier partners, our Team Schein Member volunteers, and our local community health center organization partners, we are collectively 'helping health happen' for thousands of children and their caregivers every year."
HLHC is annually co-sponsored by state and local community health organizations and supported by Henry Schein's supplier partners. At each HLHC event, local physicians, nurses, dentists and community volunteers screen for five diseases – hypertension, asthma, diabetes, obesity and poor oral health – and associated risk factors that commonly affect children. In addition, participating children and their caregivers receive educational materials about ways to prevent and treat these problems, as well as assistance in finding a local community health center where they may receive health care on a regular basis. The program seeks to create a "Health Home" for participating children, so that they have a place to receive ongoing care throughout the year.
About the National Association of Community Health Centers
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) was founded in 1971. Its mission is to promote the provision of high quality, comprehensive and affordable health care that is coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent, and community directed for all medically underserved populations. NACHC represents over 1,300 health center organizations that serve more than 24 million patients at over 9,000 sites in the United States and its territories.
