Quality improvement through digital training therapy
AUVA Accident Hospital Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria
"Digitalization is often a topic among colleagues too, but the final step toward implementation is frequently missing. With the acquisition of Pixformance stations, we at AUVA are now the first hospital with a digital product in therapy and are taking on a pioneering role. We are naturally very proud of that."
— Christoph Oratsch, Head of Therapy, AUVA Accident Hospital Klagenfurt
Christoph Oratsch
Head of Therapy, AUVA Accident Hospital Klagenfurt
Clinic Profile
Location
Klagenfurt, Austria
Founded
1953
Specialization
Trauma surgery, orthopedics
Patient Capacity
100 beds
More Info
www.ukhklagenfurt.atDigital pioneer of the AUVA group
The Accident Hospital Klagenfurt am Wörthersee (UKH) belongs to the group of nine accident hospitals operated by AUVA. According to Head of Therapy Christoph Oratsch, it is a small but very modern and progressive hospital with inpatient and outpatient care options. Physiotherapy is an important pillar of the clinic and helps patients improve, restore, or maintain their movement and functional ability.
Oratsch sees the move toward digitalization not as a change, but as an additional offering and therefore as a quality improvement for therapy. Before investing, the Head of Therapy and his team conducted a detailed 6-month trial to get a clear picture of what Pixformance could offer. They ultimately decided on four Pixformance stations, placed in a group therapy room.
Digitally promoting patient independence
When a patient is admitted, it is first checked whether training therapy with Pixformance is possible – in particular whether the loading and movement requirements from the surgical side are in place. If so, an individual training program is created with a few clicks on the online platform. The first training session takes place under therapeutic supervision. Patients can then train independently at the station.
"Pixformance is a great support for us in carrying out the classic home exercise program in a more targeted way. We have better training planning, as the exercises can be individually set with repetitions, difficulty levels, duration, etc., so that patients do exactly what the therapist wants. Additionally, the guidance through the short videos on the stations helps them enormously with exercise execution."
The exercises are varied and go far beyond classic strength training. Oratsch explains:
"When exercises are just printed out, patients often resist performing challenging exercises that are essential for therapy success – they put them off or skip them entirely."
Thanks to guidance from the virtual trainer, patients are motivated to always perform their exercises correctly and cleanly – which has a positive effect on long-term therapy success.
Intensive patient care beyond the clinic stay
Beyond on-site training in Klagenfurt, every patient is recommended the Pixformance web app – especially for outpatient care, to consolidate training therapy at home. Oratsch tells of an eleven-year-old patient whose family went through a COVID infection during therapy. For four weeks he couldn't come to the clinic – thanks to the Pixformance web app he continued training nonetheless. When he returned, clear progress was visible.
"Just recently we accompanied a young woman after shoulder surgery via tele-support using the Pixformance web app. She comes to the clinic once a week and does the rest of the therapy at home. That's a truly wonderful option for less mobile patients."
— Christoph Oratsch
Patient feedback is generally very positive – Oratsch even reports of patients who proactively request a training program.
Time savings and more patients with the same staffing resources
In addition to benefits for patients, the therapists at UKH also benefit from the digital support.
"With Pixformance we have an enormous time gain. We can more easily care for more patients, with the same staffing resources."
— Christoph Oratsch
He also praises the high degree of individualization of Pixformance exercises: from 18 to 75 years old, from cruciate ligament injuries to shoulder injuries – the right training program can be offered for all patients.
