An Ohio skilled nursing facility received hundreds of much-needed pieces of personal protective equipment thanks to a donation from the Ford Motor Co.
The company gave hundreds of face shields to the Versailles Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, a 112-bed skilled nursing facility in Versailles, OH, facility leaders said.
The donation was part of a company-wide effort to manufacture and distribute supplies to healthcare providers. Ford, which has also been producing respirators, reusable gowns and other supplies to help frontline healthcare workers, has made similar donations to other facilities and healthcare providers across the country.
The gift, which was made in late July, has been “critical” to the facility’s safety protocols that protect residents, patients and staff from spreading diseases, like COVID-19, according to Versailles Senior Administrator Kristy Earick.
Facility staff members said this donation has been “particularly beneficial” since face shields fully cover workers’ faces and eyes. They added that the shields, worn over N95 masks, help more effectively limit a workers’ exposure to COVID-19, as opposed to wearing only a mask.
“Our community has been very caring during the pandemic, and we’ve received many touching donations and offers of help,” Earick added.
Access to adequate PPE has been a top concern among long-term care providers since the start of the public health crisis in the United States in March. For the time being, Versailles won’t have to worry about that.
