The VIMP grant is a follow-up to the orthosis efficiency study (orthesedoelmatigheid studie), conducted by Elza van Duijnhoven in which the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of providing leg orthoses according to the national orthosis guideline in an expert setting, i.e. specialist orthosis care was compared with usual orthosis care in people with neuromuscular diseases (orthesedoelmatigheid studie | Spierziekten Centrum Nederland).
Specialist orthotic care led to significantly higher scores on achieving personal goals compared with usual orthotic care, and physical functioning and orthotic satisfaction improved more with specialist orthotic care. Specialist orthotic care was also found to be cost-effective from the societal perspective compared with usual orthotic care.
Based on the positive results, a VIMP was written at the invitation of ZonMw. The VIMP will focus on setting up an orthosis network consisting of a number of NMA orthosis centres spread across the country, collaborating with a network of non-specialist centres treating less complex care needs. The VIMP project (€50k) will be launched in early 2025.