Caretool S!MPLR

S!MPLR is a tool for healthcare professionals that combines several essential instruments, such as scissors, ampoule opener, measuring tape, magnetic key, bottle opener and clamp, in a single, compact and user-friendly design. The tool is light, sustainable and hygienic. It increases efficiency, improves safety and minimises the risk of injury. In other words, it improves patient care and leads to greater user satisfaction among healthcare professionals.

The jury on Caretool S!MPLR:

The product was created in cooperation with the actual persons involved in the care process. It stands out because of its simplicity in providing straightforward solutions for day-to-day challenges in multiple healthcare domains. It is easy to use and carry around.

What does this award mean to you?

As nurses with extensive practical experience (Dennis Logie and Remko De Duytsche, ed.), we share a passion for innovation and design. We have always felt the need not only to help patients but also to improve the way in which care is delivered. Our care tool was born out of this passion. For us, this award is a recognition of the value our tool and vision can bring to the healthcare sector. It is an honour to see that our combination of practical experience and creative thinking is appreciated in a design context. This motivates us to innovate further. It is also a confirmation that effective care and well-considered design can go hand in hand and create a positive impact.

How did the idea for this project come about?

In 2018, the idea for S!MPLR arose from a need for a simple, practical tool that healthcare professionals could always have at hand. As nurses, we noticed that hands-on healthcare innovation is often overlooked, while simple tools are precisely what’s needed at the patient’s bedside. Although we do recognise the value of technologies such as electronic health records and AI, we wanted to create something that directly addresses the day-to-day needs of healthcare professionals. That’s how S!MPLR was born: a fish-shaped, sustainable and affordable tool that promotes efficiency and patient safety while also being beautiful and hygienic. Our inspiration came from key care parameters such as fluid balance, dehydration and fluid overload. 

What makes your project so special?

S!MPLR offers assistance in opening ampoules, clamping tubes, measuring the heart rate and much more. What makes S!MPLR really special is that it is sustainable and locally produced. We wanted to create not just a practical tool but also a product that contributes to a more sustainable healthcare environment. Nurses are the silent heroes of healthcare. They deserve a tool that makes their work more efficient and safer. It is a tribute to their indispensable efforts and helps them give their best every day.

Do you have any further plans for this project?

We want to further develop and optimise the care tool based on feedback from healthcare professionals. Our goal is to use the tool even more extensively across different care domains, therefore ensuring an even greater impact on day-to-day care. In addition, through our non-profit organisation S!MPLR, we want to continue to focus on healthcare innovation, consistently prioritising simplicity, efficiency and safety within a context of sustainability and local production. This care tool is just the beginning.