Written By: Jack Robertson

Today, we visited Gorlizko Ospitalea (Hospital Gorliz) on the coast of Bilbao, Spain.

This hospital is located right in front of a beach, offering patients a beautiful ocean view through the front windows. The facility specializes in several areas, with a strong focus on rehabilitation for patients of all ages.

During our tour of key sections of the hospital, I learned a lot about how the building operates and how the staff work efficiently while always prioritizing patient care. What stood out to me most, however, was seeing the variety of engineered devices used throughout the hospital and how each one plays a role in supporting and addressing patient needs.

One device I had the opportunity to see was a motion-detecting game designed to help young children build muscle and improve their balance in an engaging way. The physical therapist who introduced us to this tool explained that while children tend to improve their balance most effectively through exercise, asking a child to do something like 10 squats in a row can feel tedious and unmotivating.

This device, however, tracks the child’s movements as they stand in front of a screen, which displays a game that prompts them to move their hands and feet to hit targets and reach goals. I found this device absolutely fascinating. It was inspiring to see how such a simple concept could transform the rehabilitation process into something fun and motivating for children.

I also had the chance to learn about how engineered devices are used in x-rays for patients. During our demonstration, the radiologist showed us a small plate that is placed under the x-ray table when patients are being scanned from above. From there, he showed us these large machines (displayed in the image above) which receive the absorbed radiation from these plates and use it to generate detailed x-ray images of the patient.

It was fascinating to see how engineered technology plays such an important role in the x-ray process, which is such an essential practice in diagnosing and improving patient health.

This tour taught me so much about how engineering plays a key role in modern healthcare. From simple games that exercise standing muscles for children to x-ray technology that is used millions of times per day globally, engineering is essential for improving patient health as well as the healthcare system as a whole.

These devices made me reflect on how my future creations could help users in the same way these technologies do, and it excites me to see how engineering continues to pioneer major advancements, not only in healthcare but across many fields. Overall, this experience deepened my appreciation for the impact of engineering in medicine, and I hope to carry this inspiration forward as I design and develop devices in my future career.