Henry Schein Launches ‘Prevention is Power’ Campaign
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) unveils Prevention is Power™, a long-term public health awareness initiative led by the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Inc. (HSCF). This campaign aims to enhance health literacy and encourage patients to utilize integrated preventive care, ultimately reducing chronic diseases and healthcare costs. HSCF serves as a philanthropic entity dedicated to promoting health equity and empowering healthcare professionals for a healthier future.
The imperative for unified action is evident. Research from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Commonwealth Fund, and other institutions reveals that despite substantial healthcare spending, the United States lags behind its peers in overall health outcomes. It’s widely recognized that regular utilization of preventive healthcare services leads to better population health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. However, too few Americans are capitalizing on this comprehensive approach to care. A recent poll commissioned by HSCF surveyed 2,000 Americans, revealing that 64% only seek medical or dental care when something feels “extremely wrong,” 53% find accessing healthcare difficult, and 35% believe more information and education on the importance of screenings and routine care would be beneficial.
Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman and CEO of Henry Schein, Inc., emphasized the transformative potential of integrated care, which acknowledges each patient as a unique combination of interconnected systems—medical, dental, and mental health—that collectively contribute to overall health and well-being. Shifting away from a reactive mindset, where individuals only seek care when ill, towards regular access to preventive healthcare can help reduce health disparities, foster equity, and cultivate healthier communities.
To realize the campaign’s objectives, HSCF is collaborating with a diverse array of prominent 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 respected organizations.
The campaign commences with the Prevention is Power Health Care Screening Program, a partnership with NACHC. HSCF will provide grants and healthcare product donations to six community health centers nationwide, including 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).
Furthermore, HSCF will identify and support incentives and strategies to encourage patient engagement with wellness visits and screening services. As non-communicable diseases disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, community health centers play a crucial role in promoting screening services and preventive care for these individuals.
Additionally, HSCF has partnered with the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy Foundation, which, alongside a team of graduate students, will gather data from participating community health centers and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the Health Care Screening Program.
In the program’s second phase, slated to commence in Q4 2024, Prevention is Power will develop and implement pilot programs to attract new patients to regular primary and oral care. These pilot programs, targeted in specific areas, will utilize an agile approach by testing and measuring the impact of various public health awareness outreach models on different populations. The campaign will also equip clinicians in private practice and larger health systems with tools to enhance patient engagement and increase routine preventive care utilization. Mr. Bergman emphasized, “Through a robust set of programs and pilots, Prevention is Power aims to establish best practices for enhancing patient engagement and boosting routine preventive care utilization.
