How to plan casting and fitting appointments for a device
Assessment, cast or scan, test fitting, delivery and first review: how prosthetists and orthotists plan the series of visits behind a new device.
5 min read
A new prosthesis or orthosis is made over a series of appointments, and the patient should know the whole path from the first visit. Plan an assessment, a casting or scanning appointment, one or more test fittings, the delivery of the finished device and a first review a short time after. Give each type of visit a length that fits what happens in it, tell patients what to wear and bring, and book the next step before they leave so the gap between casting and fitting stays as planned.
The stages of a new device
- Assessment: medical history, the prescription or referral, the patient's goals and daily activities, skin and limb or joint condition, measurements. The longest conversation of the series.
- Casting or scanning: a plaster or fibreglass cast, or a 3D scan, in the position the device must hold. The patient needs to stay still and relaxed.
- Test fitting: a check socket or a trial orthosis, adjusted on the patient, with walking or movement tests. Some devices need more than one.
- Delivery: the finished device, how to put it on and take it off, care and cleaning, how long to wear it at first.
- First review: a short visit after the first days or weeks of use to check comfort, skin and function.
Giving each visit the right length
An assessment with a new patient takes longer than a quick adjustment, and a prosthetic test fitting with gait observation takes longer than an insole check. Set a typical length for each type of visit in your practice, and add time for patients who come with a carer or need help to change. A fitting that runs late pushes the whole afternoon, so leave a buffer after the appointments that tend to need extra adjustments.
Workshop time between visits
Between casting and test fitting, the device is made in your workshop or by a manufacturer. Book the fitting with that lead time in mind, not before. If you rely on an outside lab, confirm its delivery date before you give the patient a date.
What to tell patients before they come
- Wear loose clothing that gives easy access to the limb or joint: shorts or loose trousers for a lower-limb device, a short-sleeved top for an upper-limb device.
- Bring the shoes you'll wear every day with a lower-limb orthosis or prosthesis; heel height changes the alignment.
- Bring the prescription or referral, any previous device and the list of current treatments.
- Come with someone if putting on the device will need help at home, so they learn at the same time.
- Tell the practice in advance about any wound, pain or swelling, so the visit can be planned accordingly.
Keeping a record of each step
Note after each visit what was done and what comes next: measurements, cast or scan reference, adjustments made at the fitting, the wearing schedule given at delivery. When the patient comes back, you or a colleague can pick up exactly where the last visit stopped.
Children and growing patients
Children grow, and their orthoses and prostheses need checking and replacing at shorter intervals than adults'. Plan shorter visits, outside school hours when possible, and involve the parents in each step. Explain the plan in words the child understands; a test fitting goes better when the child knows what to expect.
Booking the series with Book
On Book, each service has a name, a price and an optional description shown on your public page. Create services for the visits patients can book themselves — a first assessment, a review — and open slots at the length each one takes. For the casting, fitting and delivery appointments, open the slots and book the patient into them yourself from your calendar once the workshop dates are known; with one place per slot, a booked appointment no longer shows on your page. In each service description, list what to wear and bring. When you add the patient's email, they receive a confirmation with a calendar file, and you get a new-booking email with any note.
| Service | Example slot | Example price |
|---|---|---|
| First assessment | 1 h | €60 |
| Casting or scanning | 45 min | €40 |
| Test fitting | 1 h | €40 |
| Device delivery and instructions | 45 min | €40 |
| Review appointment | 30 min | €30 |
Durations and prices are examples: set your own. If a device is delayed, reschedule the fitting from your bookings list and tell the patient yourself, since Book doesn't email clients about changes. Book costs €5/month, everything included: unlimited services and bookings, no commission, no contract.