For people who rely on prosthetics, braces, or custom wheelchair seating, comfort and fit can make a big difference in everyday life. At Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina, a new digital scanning system is helping make that experience quicker, easier and more comfortable for patients.
Through a partnership between eHealth Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Health Authority, clinicians are now using digital scanning instead of traditional plaster casting. The scan is quick and comfortable, and it captures precise measurements to help create better fitting devices. Patients no longer sit still for long periods while messy molds are made.
Patients are already seeing the benefits. One longtime prosthetic user shared that this was the most comfortable prosthetic they had worn in more than 20 years. With a better fit from the start, many patients now need fewer follow-up visits and adjustments before reaching their final prosthetic.
The new process also helps reduce wait times. Because assessments and fittings take less time, clinics can see more patients. Digital files can be sent directly to specialized manufacturers, cutting down on shipping time and speeding up production.
Clinicians have welcomed the change. While learning new technology takes time, they say it helps them focus more on patient care. With early success, the team is exploring how digital scanning could be used for other devices in the future – helping more people get the care they need, sooner.
eHealth Saskatchewan provides the digital tools that help the province’s health system run smoothly, connecting people and providers so care is easier to access. We look after electronic health records – including MySaskHealthRecord – and manage health cards and certificates, making it simple for residents to get the information and care they need, quickly and securely.
