We are immensely grateful for Hamilton and District Senior Citizens’ Home RAMBYNAS Inc. commitment to fostering a future where innovation and compassion converge for the betterment of all.
We are excited to announce a significant advancement in patient care at Hamilton Health Sciences with the acquisition of three state-of-the-art rehabilitation tools. This transformational equipment positions Hamilton Health Sciences at the forefront of rehabilitation innovation and was made possible through a generous donation from Hamilton and District Senior Citizens’ Home RAMBYNAS Inc.
Thanks to their incredible gift of $1.5 million, we were able to acquire an Ekso robotic exoskeleton and ZeroG Gait System for the Regional Rehabilitation Centre (RRC) and will enable the purchase of a state-of-the-art 3D printer for Hamilton Health Sciences’ Prosthetics and Orthotics Program.
Hamilton and District Senior Citizens’ Home RAMBYNAS Inc.’s transformative gift is already making a significant impact on patient care, particularly at the RRC where we recently had the opportunity to take members of the organization’s board on a tour to see some of this equipment in action.
First, physiotherapist Mike Finlay and his patient, Kofi, showed us the futuristic Ekso robotic exoskeleton in motion. This device is leading edge when it comes to the integration of robotics in a rehabilitation setting. Using the exoskeleton therapists will be able to help progress patients’ gait training more quickly in a safe and efficient way. By directly engaging lower limb motor functions, these battery-powered robotic suits empower individuals like Kofi to stand and walk, offering benefits such as improved circulation, pain reduction, and superior joint maintenance.
Next, Jacqueline Hockridge a physiotherapist and one of her patients, Jay, invited us to walk alongside them as Jay made strides with the ZeroG Gait and Balance System. This robotic body-weight support device assists patients with conditions like spinal cord and brain injuries, stroke symptoms, and lower extremity amputations safely relearn how to walk. The system's parameters are configured to prevent falls while allowing a controlled range of motion, making it adaptable for various stages of therapy, from catching patients before falling to practicing more advanced movements as rehabilitation progresses. Hamilton Health Sciences is now the fourth institution in Canada to install this equipment.
Following these incredible demonstrations, we took our friends from Hamilton and District Senior Citizens’ Home RAMBYNAS Inc. to see the Prosthetics and Orthotics Program, the largest facility of its kind in Canada and the site that will soon house a state-of-the-art 3D printer. Here, certified clinicians and technicians create tailored prosthetics and orthotics to support patients in achieving their functional goals. The new 3D printer will offer the program’s technicians greater design freedom, superior accuracy, cost efficiency, reduced fabrication time, and the ability to create unique functional elements for their patients.
Witnessing firsthand the incredible strides of patients like Jay and Kofi, alongside dedicated health care professionals and talented technicians, reinforces the profound difference access to these technological advancements will make. We are immensely grateful for Hamilton and District Senior Citizens’ Home RAMBYNAS Inc. commitment to fostering a future where innovation and compassion converge for the betterment of all.
