The Prosthetics and Orthotics department at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS), the largest of its kind in Canada with over 10,000 patient visits annually, is setting a new standard in patient care. HHS has become the first public health care facility in Canada to adopt advanced 3D printing technology for prosthetics and orthotics on such a broad and comprehensive scale.
A generous gift of $1 million from Hamilton and District Senior Citizens’ Home RAMBYNAS Inc. enabled the purchase of a 3D printer system that allowed the clinical teams at HHS to dream bigger. Their willingness to invest boldly in something new is already paying off — providing access to cutting-edge prosthetic and orthotic care for both pediatric and adult patients that can now benefit from its availability in the region.
The system includes two printers: one large unit fabricating more rigid material, and a smaller one providing softer, more flexible elements. Together, they allow for unprecedented customization – as demonstrated by a child’s orthotic featuring a hard outer shell with a Batman motif and a soft inner lining that sits against the skin. This technology adds complexity without adding cost, time, or labour, reduces waste, and expands patient choice in how devices are fabricated, their comfort and what they look like.
Says Brad Haardeng, Clinical Manager of Prosthetics & Orthotics, “People tend to get pretty excited about new technology.” This new 3D printer system is enabling the clinical team to pioneer on multiple fronts: finding novel opportunities to collaborate across hospital departments and exploring unexpected uses, including burn masks for HHS’s burn unit. It also positions HHS to attract and retain the brightest minds in the field. “It’s incredible to see how this technology is changing lives,” adds Danielle Petruccelli, Geriatrics and Rehabilitation Program Director. “Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’re able to offer patients care that’s not just innovative but truly life changing.”
Hamilton and District Senior Citizens’ Home RAMBYNAS Inc. were recently hosted to see the facility and their donation hard at work. “We are so impressed and so happy we could make this donation,” said Gedas “Butch” Blekaitis, a board member of Hamilton and District Senior Citizens’ Home RAMBYNAS Inc. “It was so exciting and interesting to tour the facility here at HHS and see the impact that the innovative 3D printing is making on patients’ lives,” added Loretta Stankus, another board member.
Leslie Gillies, VP Post-Acute Care, Clinical Practice & Education and Chief Nursing Executive, captured the spirit of the day: “To see everyone focused on this goal of improving people’s lives is just amazing. We are so grateful for Hamilton and District Citizens’ Home RAMBYNAS Inc.’s generosity and their vision in investing in this technology.”
Hamilton and District Senior Citizens’ Home RAMBYNAS Inc. also funded a robotic exoskeleton and Zero-G gait and Balance system for the Regional Rehabilitation Centre at Hamilton General Hospital, as well as a donation to benefit priority equipment at St. Peter’s Hospital.
These investments reflect what becomes possible when community generosity and medical innovation meet. We are deeply grateful to Hamilton and District Senior Citizens’ Home RAMBYNAS Inc. for their community leadership and compassion in support of groundbreaking innovation to benefit the patients, families, and caregivers of HHS.