Digital Profile: Sanitätshaus Wurster

Here’s a popular discussion topic for you to consider: is the European market quicker to adopt new technology? Has the European market integrated more digital tools into their O&P ecosystem compared to other markets?

We have the honor of chatting with practitioners and clinicians all over the world to learn about their clinics and workflows. It’s amazing to see how each individual approaches new technology, and as an industry we can all agree there are multiple ways to treat a patient depending on different variables.

Today we’re excited to share the digital profile of Sanitätshaus Wurster, a German medical supply facility who specializes in functional and fashionable devices tailor made to the needs of their patients and clientele.

How are you currently using scanning in your practice (how often, for which devices, etc)?

We use Combscan as a complement to the Artec EVA scanner. We have the following areas of application:

1. AFOs for mentally disabled or very young children:

With this method, we can capture models very quickly without being disturbed by the flashes of the strip light scanner.

2. Scanning of existing prosthetic sockets or corsets from the inside:

We have had good experiences with scanning existing, proven and used forms from the inside. We use the reverse function available in the Artec tool suite to process the data.

What tools are you using for scanning, modification and fabrication? Are you outsourcing fabrication? Where are you outsourcing to?

We often collect partial scans and assign them to the Artec software suite. The advantage is that we can precisely control the joint positions. We also use transparent covers, sometimes in conjunction with a mirror. Then the scan received from the mirror is compared again. We milled positive models externally. But we are also increasingly using 3D printing.

How did you decide to make the move to digital? What was your decision process like?

We have tested several systems over the past two years. In order to ensure interoperability in our projects, we decided together with our partner companies for Freeform. The use of a uniform software platform in our consortium gives us the opportunity to exchange experiences, organize training courses together, share tasks, accelerate development and, last but not least, be more cost-efficient.

Where is the value for you in digital? Is it costs, time savings etc?

Of course, we are exposed to cost pressure and the low reimbursement by the health insurance companies.

The most important thing for us, however, is that the digital workflow leads to a higher quality. It's more precise, faster, and has better revision options.

Do you believe that the digital workflow will be more widely used in O&P over the next few years? If so, why?

In any case, at the latest with the advancement of 3-D printing technology.

What advice would you give to the thousands of practitioners around the world exploring digital for the first time?

The digital process consists of several individual solutions. Depending on the requirements, you will need to develop your own workflow. Very important: You have to be networked, it is good to exchange experiences.

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