2024 interns prototype a low-cost and low-tech solution to track hospital equipment location and status

This summer, our four talented interns, Eve, Jacob, Jade and Harvey embarked on a nine-week journey to develop innovative solutions for improving equipment tracking in hospitals.

The challenge was born out of the real-world problem of medical staff wasting valuable time locating equipment. Despite some NHS Trusts implementing digital tracking solutions, the high costs and infrastructure requirements associated with these systems are often prohibitive. Our interns were tasked with creating a low-cost, low-tech solution that would streamline equipment tracking with minimal intervention.

Coming from diverse backgrounds in medicine, medical engineering, mathematics, computer science, and human sciences, our interns brought a wealth of skills. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and eagerness to learn were the driving forces behind their success. Throughout the internship, they rapidly acquired new skills in project management, cloud infrastructure, microchip design, 3D printing, iOS app development, and more.

By the end of the nine weeks, they had developed a functioning prototype product, no larger than a 10p coin, with a production cost of just £2. The device boasts a battery life of approximately five years, aligning with the typical lifecycle of medical equipment before servicing is required.

The internship was not just about technical development. The interns also participated in several workshops led by HDI staff and associates, focusing on the commercialisation of their product. They learned to identify the pains and gains of potential customers, create a value proposition canvas, and understand costings modelling. They also explored scalability and pricing, and even created a one-minute video campaign to promote their product.

Of course, it wasn’t all work and no play. The interns enjoyed a punting trip on the River Cam, taking advantage of the beautiful Cambridge surroundings. The interns then presented their project to the wider HDI staff and associates in hospital management, sparking an engaging discussion on the future of the project. The internship concluded with a fun-filled Hackathon, where interns and HDI staff collaborated in teams to solve problems as diverse as “Is the milk ok to drink?” and “Can we get a webserver running on an esp32?”.

This internship experience was a testament to the power of curiosity, learning, and collaboration. We look forward to welcoming future interns who are ready to take on real-world challenges and make a difference. 

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