Development, Evaluation, and Implementation of a New 3D Printed Tongue Depressor Dispenser

The purpose of this technical report was two-fold. First was to describe the concept, development and initial implementation of a three-dimensional (3D) printing network focussed on manufacturing simulators and simple devices necessary to the functioning of rural hospital and clinics. Second was to describe the design, fabrication and user-based evaluation of a cost-effective tongue depressor dispenser. The initial successful setup and implementation of the 3D printing network were modelled using four of the five implementation constructs derived from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). The 3D printing of the tongue depressor dispenser was found to be an effective and economic initiative. Without considering the initial design costs, the materials costs were estimated at $6 Canadian per dispenser. After installation of the dispenser in a busy emergency department, hospital leadership and staff viewed it as a safer option to the current dispense, and more affordable.