Jeffrey Deren, MD partnered with Orlando Health Strategic Innovations to bring project to life
Orlando, FL (February 26, 2026) – Orlando Health has launched a pilot study of a new splint, invented by one of its own physicians, to improve patient care following a hand or wrist injury. Jeffrey Deren, MD has been practicing medicine for 30 years and saw an opportunity to enhance patient experience and outcomes with the invention of “SafeSplint.” The splint is currently being trialed at several Orlando Health emergency departments and the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute – Alafaya/Waterford Lakes walk-in clinic before systemwide and nationwide distribution.
“Oftentimes I’ll see a patient after an urgent care or emergency room visit, and their splints are too tight, or their hand isn’t in the correct position,” said Dr. Deren, a surgeon specializing in upper extremity conditions with Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute. “I thought, there has to be a better way to help keep the injury protected before seeing a specialist.”
An estimated four million people injure their hand or wrist each year in the United States. According to Dr. Deren, an improper splint can cause unnecessary pain and complications.
While Dr. Deren initially came up with the design in 2017, he more recently partnered with the Orlando Health Strategic Innovations team to bring the project to life through the FDA. SafeSplint ensures that an injured wrist or hand will be in a safe, functional position while the proper joints are immobilized. The unique, patented design includes hinges, air bladders and straps to make sure each patient has a customized splint tailored to their specific injury. SafeSplint can play a critical role not just in hospitals and urgent care clinics, but also residential care communities, nursing homes and athletic training rooms.
“We were thrilled when Dr. Deren came to us with this idea,” said Bobby Helmedag, vice president, Orlando Health Strategic Innovations. “This is a great example of how our physicians are leading and shaping their fields – by thinking outside of the box and creating innovative products that benefit patients based on their own clinical experiences.”
Orlando Health Strategic Innovations (OHSI) is a department within Orlando Health that inspires, cultivates and accelerates innovation across the healthcare system. OHSI’s internal accelerator program identifies, refines, develops and commercializes the most promising innovations from team members and physicians. Aparata Medical, Orlando Health’s wholly owned subsidiary, is registered with the FDA as Specification Developer for regulated medical devices, and SafeSplint is registered under Aparata Medical.
About Orlando Health
Orlando Health is a private not-for-profit, integrated academic healthcare system with $14 billion of assets under management, that serves the southeastern United States – including Florida and Alabama – and Puerto Rico. With corporate offices in Orlando, Florida the system provides a complete continuum of care across a network of medical centers and institutes, community and specialty hospitals, physician practices, urgent care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and long-term and behavioral health care services. Founded more than 100 years ago, Orlando Health’s mission is to improve the health and the quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve. The system provided nearly $2 billion in community impact in the form of community benefit programs and services, Medicare shortfalls, bad debt, community-building activities and capital investments in FY 24, the most recent period for which the information is available. For more information, visit orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.