MELVILLE, N.Y., July 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Schein,
Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) today announced that it has formed a multi-year
partnership with Special Olympics to support the organization's
efforts to deliver health care and education among its athletes at
select Special Olympics events.
Through this partnership, Henry
Schein has been named a Special Olympics Health Provider
Partner, and will donate essential health care products to support
Special Olympics Healthy Athletes®. This initiative will offer
health screenings and education to participating athletes with the
goal of promoting healthy lifestyle choices and identifying
problems that may need additional follow-up.
According to Special Olympics, people with intellectual
disabilities (ID) are frequently among the most medically
vulnerable populations in any country, despite severe need and
higher health risks. Henry Schein's
donation will support Healthy Athletes screenings at 200 Special
Olympics events, beginning this week in Seattle and continuing through 2019 at events
in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Israel, Jamaica, and the U.K. The donation includes a
range of oral health and medical products essential to overall
health and wellness.
"Team Schein is pleased to partner with Special Olympics in
support of Healthy Athletes. Supporting the health of people with
intellectual disabilities throughout our society closely aligns
with our belief in the power of wellness, prevention, treatment,
and education to reduce disparities in the delivery of care," said
Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry
Schein. "We look forward to working with Special Olympics
and the program's dedicated health professionals as they help set
these incredible athletes on the path to a lifetime of good overall
health."
As a Special Olympics Health Provider Partner, Henry Schein's donations will be used during
screenings in six of eight Healthy Athletes disciplines, including
Special Smiles, which provides athletes with comprehensive oral
health care information, free dental screenings, instructions on
proper brushing and flossing techniques, and if needed, a referral
to a dental care provider at home trained to treat people with
ID.
Special Smiles fills a particular need for people with ID.
Global oral health indicators among Special Olympics athletes show
that:
- 15 percent have mouth pain;
- 37 percent have untreated tooth decay;
- 28 percent have missing teeth;
- 46 percent have signs of gingivitis; and
- 14 percent need an urgent dental referral.
Henry Schein's donations also
support five additional Healthy Athletes disciplines: Fit Feet
(podiatry), FUNfitness (physical therapy), Health Promotion (better
health and well-being), MedFest (sports physical exam), and Strong
Minds (emotional well-being).
"The partnership between Henry
Schein and Special Olympics will not only strengthen our
ability to provide the high-quality health screenings that our
athletes deserve but also draw attention to the health injustice
faced by people with intellectual disabilities," said Drew Boshell, Senior Vice President of Sport and
Health at Special Olympics. "Both Henry Schein and Special Olympics
share a common belief that all people deserve quality health care
regardless of their differences, and Henry
Schein's contribution of health care products for our health
events will allow our athletes to achieve their best on and off the
playing field."
Since its inception in 1997, Healthy Athletes has delivered 2.1
million free health screenings in more than 135 countries and
trained over 240,000 health care professionals, clinical
volunteers, and students in using adapted screening protocols and
in communicating effectively with people with ID. This training
also aids in building the health care community's capacity to serve
the health care needs of people with ID outside of Special Olympics
events, as providers take these skills back to their practices and
provide higher quality health care to people with ID—not just
Special Olympic athletes—in their communities.
The donation is an initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the
company's global corporate social responsibility program.
About Henry Schein Cares
Henry Schein Cares stands on
four pillars: engaging Team Schein Members to reach their
potential, ensuring accountability by extending ethical business
practices to all levels within Henry
Schein, promoting environmental sustainability, and
expanding access to health care for underserved and at-risk
communities around the world. Health care activities supported by
Henry Schein Cares focus on three main areas: advancing wellness,
building capacity in the delivery of health care services, and
assisting in emergency preparedness and relief.
Firmly rooted in a deep commitment to social responsibility and
the concept of enlightened self-interest championed
by Benjamin Franklin, the philosophy behind Henry Schein Cares
is a vision of "doing well by doing good." Through the work of
Henry Schein Cares to enhance access to care for those in need, the
Company believes that it is furthering its long-term success.
"Helping Health Happen Blog" is a platform for health care
professionals to share their volunteer experiences delivering
assistance to those in need globally. To read more about how Henry
Schein Cares is making a difference, please visit our
blog: www.helpinghealthhappen.org.
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 more than
22,000 Team Schein Members serving more than 1
million customers globally, the Company is the world's largest
provider of Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chain
solutions to enhance the efficiency of
office-based dental, animal health,
and medical practitioners. The Company also
serves dental laboratories, government and institutional
health care clinics, and other alternate care sites.
A Fortune 500® Company and a member of
the S&P 500® and the Nasdaq 100® indexes,
Henry Schein's network of trusted
advisors provides health care professionals with the valued
solutions they need to improve operational success and clinical
outcomes. The Company offers customers exclusive, innovative
products and solutions, including practice management software,
e-commerce solutions, specialty and surgical products, as well as a
broad range of financial services. Henry Schein operates through a centralized and
automated distribution network, with a selection of more than
120,000 branded products and Henry
Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than
180,000 additional products available as special-order items.
Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein has operations or affiliates in 34
countries. The Company's sales reached a record $12.5
billion in 2017, and have grown at a compound annual rate of
approximately 15 percent since Henry
Schein became a public company in 1995. For more
information, visit Henry Schein
at www.henryschein.com, Facebook.com/HenrySchein,
and @HenrySchein on Twitter.
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