Henry Schein's 'Healthy Children, Healthy Lifestyles' Expands to Four New Cities in Its Second Year
Health Care Initiative Addresses Diseases and Risk Factors that Afflict Children
MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 2007--Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq:HSIC), the largest distributor of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners in the combined North American and European markets, announced today that "Healthy Children, Healthy Lifestyles," a program that promotes access to health care for underserved children, will expand to bring free medical services to children in four new cities this year. In addition to Columbia, South Carolina, where the program was launched in 2006, Healthy Children, Healthy Lifestyles will aid children in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Detroit, Michigan; and Richmond, Virginia.
Supported by Henry Schein Cares, the Company's global social responsibility program, Healthy Children, Healthy Lifestyles is cosponsored by state and local health organizations. This summer a total of more than 2,000 children will receive free health and dental screenings from local physicians, nurses, dentists and community volunteers, who check for diseases and risk factors that commonly afflict children, including hypertension, asthma, diabetes, obesity and poor oral health. Healthcare volunteers will also educate the children and their parents about ways to prevent and treat these health problems, and assist them in finding a community health care clinic or doctor's office if they do not have a regular "medical home."
"We focus Henry Schein Cares resources on programs that support underserved communities, and our mission is to increase access to health care for everyone," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein. "We are committed to helping children across the country who are struggling with diseases that are easily treated, but often flourish because they go undiagnosed. Only in its second year, Healthy Children, Healthy Lifestyles will become a flagship program for Henry Schein Cares."
Henry Schein worked with the statewide Community Health Center network, local Departments of Health and Family Services, local government agencies, dental associations, churches, low-income neighborhoods, and youth and community organizations to identify children in greatest need. Beyond this recruitment, Healthy Children, Healthy Lifestyles is also open to the general public on the day it takes place in participating cities.
The program joins another Henry Schein Cares-sponsored initiative designed to increase access to health care for underserved children--the American Dental Association's "Give Kids a Smile" program, which is entering its fifth year.
In addition, "Tomorrow's Dental Office--Today," a state-of-the-art mobile dental facility that Henry Schein created in partnership with the ADA has been donated to the state of Mississippi to provide dental care to underserved people throughout the state.
Healthy Children, Healthy Lifestyles Events in 2007
- Baton Rouge, La. on July 14 at Baton Rouge River Center
Partners - Louisiana Primary Care Association and 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge - Jackson, Miss. on August 3 at the Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health
Center
Partner - Mississippi Primary Health Care Association - Detroit, Mich. on August 11 at Detroit Community Health Connection
Partner - Michigan Primary Care Association - Richmond, Va. on August 18 at Capital Area Health Network
Partner - Virginia Community Healthcare Association - Columbia, S.C. on August 18 at State Fairgrounds
Partner - South Carolina Primary Health Care Association
About Henry Schein
Henry Schein, a Fortune 500(R) company, is recognized for its excellent customer service and highly competitive prices. The Company's four business groups - Dental, Medical, International and Technology - serve more than 500,000 customers worldwide, including dental practitioners and laboratories, physician practices and animal health clinics, as well as government and other institutions. The Company operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 200 countries with a comprehensive selection of more than 70,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 100,000 additional products available as special-order items.
Henry Schein also offers a wide range of innovative value-added practice solutions for healthcare professionals, such as ArubA(R), the Company's electronic catalog and ordering system. Its leading practice-management software solutions have been installed in more than 50,000 practices, including DENTRIX(R) and Easy Dental(R) for dental practices, MicroMD(R) for physician practices, and AVImark(R) for animal health clinics. Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein employs nearly 12,000 people and has operations in 19 countries. The Company's net sales reached a record $5.15 billion in 2006. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.
CONTACT: Henry Schein, Inc.
Susan Vassallo, 631-843-5562
Vice President, Corporate Communications
susan.vassallo@henryschein.com
SOURCE: Henry Schein, Inc.