As you may know, PRC-Saltillo has been proudly serving AAC customers around the world for over 50 years. Our national and international teams are supported by our manufacturing facilities and head office in Ohio.
As of Tuesday, March 24, the state of Ohio is under a ‘Stay at Home’ order in an effort to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. While many businesses were asked to temporarily close, the order clarified that all essential businesses were encouraged to stay open to provide essential products and services to individuals who need them. Among the category of businesses identified as essential were healthcare and public health operations, including medical device and equipment manufacturers.
As a manufacturer and distributor of durable medical equipment, speech generating devices, PRC-Saltillo is considered an essential business. While we believe our work has always been important, the need to provide a means of communication is especially critical at this time. Now, more than ever, we all need to be able to express our needs, concerns and questions. We believe strongly that no one should be without a voice. In light of this, we plan to do all we can to provide for our customers’ needs and support them, and their caregivers and therapists. To do so, it is imperative for us to keep our facilities open at this time.
In order to ensure the safety of customers, employees and partners, PRC-Saltillo has diligently followed all federal and state government guidance on the COVID-19 health concerns. Even ahead of the recent directive to have work from home where possible, we had effectively transitioned a majority of our employees to working from home to help minimize any health risk.
For staff in manufacturing, shipping and other departments who perform essential tasks that cannot be performed at home, we have implemented all recommended safety protocols to reduce or eliminate health risk for staff and customers in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance and state health department guidance and orders including: actively encouraging sick employees to stay home and sending home employees who appear symptomatic, social distancing, good hygiene practices, enhanced environmental cleaning, flexible sick-leave poly, alternative shift options, isolated work spaces for vulnerable workers, and careful cleaning and disinfecting of all devices, parts, and accessories.
Whether you are a clinician, caregiver, or communicator, our professional consultants remain available to assist you via video conference, phone, or email. We have an outstanding selection of FREE online training and implementation resources that you can access from home. Our technical and funding support staff also remain available to assist you. Find information about these resources: prc-saltillo.com/covid-19. We also invite you to connect with us on social media for Saltillo and PRC to help you stay updated on our activities.
For those who would like to have a dedicated AAC device but do not have one yet, PRC-Saltillo is exploring ways to provide additional equipment for clinicians in clinics and schools to enable them to provide remote AAC evaluations as a key step to obtaining such a device. For more information, contact your local Consultant.
If you are a clinician who has already submitted a funding application packet or started an evaluation for one of our AAC devices, and would like to review the status of your packet, please contact us at 800-268-5224 or funding@prentrom.com.
For those who can benefit from using an AAC app, PRC-Saltillo offers two industry-leading solutions in the LAMP Words for Life® app and Saltillo’s TouchChat app.
In sum, as an essential business, PRC-Saltillo remains open to continue to fulfil our mission of giving voices to those in need of them. We will continue to serve AAC communicators, clinicians, and caregivers. We invite you to connect and stay in touch with us as we, together, get through this challenging time.
Thank you for trusting us to be your AAC partner. Our important mission continues because of you.
Sincerely,
Dave Hershberger
CEO, PRC-Saltillo