UCAST and Woodcast help Erie Hand and Upper Body Rehabilitation Center bid farewell to oil-based products 

The center aims to become more sustainable and switching to Dassiet products is one way of reaching that goal. For patients at the Erie center, the materials will also be safer and more comfortable to wear. 

Erie Hand and Upper Body Rehabilitation Center is the premiere outpatient Occupational and Physical Therapy Center in the tri-state community of Erie, according to the center’s website. 

For founder Terri Wolfe (OTR/L, CHT) a big motivator is seeing the immediate improvements patients often see in hand therapy. Sustainability is another theme close to Wolfe’s heart. 

“UCAST is so fast and easy to apply, it gives us more time to spend with patients. I like that it’s also an eco-friendly option and helps our clinic become more sustainable”, Wolfe says. 

Reducing waste without compromising patient comfort 

UCAST splints are made from a material called Woodcast. It is a mix of aspen chips and biopolymers, which makes the material environmentally friendlier than most alternatives. 

The hand therapy team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, UK was able to reduce thermoplastic waste by 54% by introducing Woodcast. The therapy team also reported that 84% of patients felt sustainable materials were important to them. 

“It’s changemakers like the team at Erie, who will shape the future of healthcare. Plastic waste is a big issue already, and it’s good to see organizations take action to solve it”, says Ilari Visuri, head of expansion at Dassiet.

If you want to become a changemaker, take the first step here. 


To learn more about Erie Hand and Upper Body Rehabilitation Center, visit their website.