Featuring Rick Wessling & Chloe Schaitl

Eighteen months ago, orthopaedic technician Rick Wessling got back in touch with his former colleague Gerben Dokter. Rick had been working in Switzerland for several years at ORTHO-TEAM, and Gerben was one of the first to come on board at Manometric. The contact was no coincidence: Manometric wanted to go one step further in Europe after crossing the border into Germany and needed the right partner to do so.

Rick: “Gerben explained how Manometric works and said that the braces fit perfectly the first time in more than 90 percent of cases. Of course, you don’t immediately believe that without seeing proof. However, I proposed the opportunity at our company because it aligned with our philosophy of applying the latest technological developments. Thanks to this philosophy, I can safely say that we are one of the most innovative companies in Switzerland.”

Teamwork

The rapid developments in their field were reason enough for orthopaedic technicians Hansjürg Aebi, Adrian Bosshard, Marc Moser, and Andreas Reinhard to join forces in 1991. Almost 35 years later, ORTHO-TEAM boasts over thirty branches in the German-speaking part of Switzerland and more than four hundred employees with numerous specializations. Everyone, young and old, can go there for care, from orthotics to complete arm or leg prostheses or, for example, an adapted wheelchair. Recently, ORTHO-TEAM even launched its proprietary brand of orthopedic footwear.

Rick emphasizes that collaboration is paramount at the company: “If a child comes to us presenting with trouble standing, we all look at what is needed to remedy that. We don’t just make a splint, we also consult with our physiotherapists and the Reha department (rehabilitation, ed.). You can’t tackle these challenges by yourself, and our way of working is a significant advantage for me as an orthopedic technician.”

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Sustainability

The company is also a frontrunner in the field of sustainability: where possible, the company uses 3D scanners and tools that are also 3D printed. This means 70 percent less waste, as plaster and plastic residual waste is used for new products. The company also operates without paper, and new company cars are now always electric models. Social sustainability is also a high priority: more simple products are made by people bearing a disadvantage in the labor market where possible, and the company supports charitable projects in Switzerland and development projects in India and Africa, among other places.

Getting younger

“Being the market leader in innovation means that we also want to be able to serve new groups of customers” says Rick. And that is where Manometric comes in. “We did not yet have an answer to the demand for durable and long-lasting thumb braces, which are also really comfortable. We see that the population is developing arthritis in their hands at an increasingly younger age. We recently treated a client who is not even 35 years old.”

Chloé Schaitl is an orthopedic technician specializing in the hand and has been working with the ManoX 3D scanner in Bern for almost a year. “In the beginning, it was quite difficult to understand exactly how it all works, but that was quickly resolved. It is, of course, extremely convenient for the patients. They come here, we have a consultation, they hold their hand in the scanner for a second and just like that it’s done.”

“The rest of the treatment is also much more comfortable. Once the brace is on, you can see immediately how well it fits. If it doesn’t, we not only provide a new one with the required adaptations, but we also investigate why the brace did not fit properly in the first place. Luckily for us and the client, that seldom happens. So far, I have only had one patient for whom the fastener was slightly too tight. For the patients, it also means that they are treated in one visit and do not have to return to have something adjusted.”

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Enrichment

“It really makes my work a lot easier and faster. We spend considerably less time from the intake until the patient departs with their perfectly fitting brace. That is an improvement for us and for the patient. I believe that Manometric’s braces are an enrichment for orthopedics.”

Rick has another wish: “There is a large demand for a durable brace for nursing staff in healthcare settings. They frequently suffer from thumb complaints, but many braces have Velcro fasteners, which are difficult to disinfect. A magnetic closure would be a perfect solution, in my opinion. I have already been in touch with Manometric about this, and they are working on it.”

ORTHO-TEAM is now working hard to bring Manometric’s braces to the public eye, and with success: the Bethesda clinic in Basel and the Ergocentro in Locarno have already started working with us. Recently, the hand surgeons at the University Hospital in Basel decided to start a pilot with ORTHO-TEAM and Manometric. There are also pilots underway in Zurich and Aarau. Rick: “We are open to new collaborations with all specialists who want to embrace these innovative products.”

A satisfied partner

33 years ago, occupational therapist Fimke Gerbrandij left for Locarno, Switzerland. It was only supposed to be for a year, but the Dutch woman never left. “It’s just a very nice life here on Lake Maggiore”, she explains. At the end of the nineties, she decided to start her own company, Ergocentro Locarno, together with her colleague Francine Lepri. Since then, the duo have specialised more and more in everything to do with the hands.

Five years ago Lepri decided to retire and since then it has been her own company, which now has eight colleagues in addition to herself. In addition to residents of Locarno and the surrounding area, she also sees many German tourists in particular who have holiday homes there.

She came into contact with Manometric almost two years ago in Rimini, Italy, at an international congress of hand surgeons. “Manometric had a stand there and I was immediately impressed.” Contact was made and a scanner has been at the Ergocentro for a year now. Gerbrandij: “This really is a fantastic product and the people who have the brace are very enthusiastic. They genuinely do have much less pain. We make splints here too, but this brace can really be worn every day because it is completely customised. After all, every hand is different and has different pressure points. I often compare it to the difference between a ready-made insole for your shoe and a custom-made orthotic.”

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