Medical Making

The practice of clinicians — particularly occupational therapists, physical therapists, and physicians — creating custom assistive devices for their patients using digital fabrication tools such as 3D printers and CAD software. Medical making extends traditional splinting and assistive-device fabrication with new digital workflows, enabling rapid prototyping and personalization at the point of care. Research has documented both promise (clinician-driven customization, reduced wait times) and challenges (steep CAD learning curves, institutional liability concerns, equipment maintenance, and limited administrative support), which influence whether medical making can scale sustainably within healthcare settings.