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Navigation in large hospitals remains a challenge, especially for patients, visitors and, in some cases, for staff, but in particular it is notable in the case of tracking ambulatory equipment. Current techniques generally seek to reproduce what outdoor navigation systems provide, i.e., "good" accuracy. In many cases, especially in hospitals, reliability is much more important than accuracy. We show that it is possible to realize a simple, reliable system with a low accuracy, but which perfectly fulfills the task assigned in the particular case of tracking stretchers. Optimizing the use of hospital equipment requires the knowledge of its movement. The possibility to access equipment location in real time as well as on the knowledge of the time necessary to move it between two locations allows to predict or to estimate the load and possibly to scale the necessary number of stretchers, and thus the availability of the stretcher bearers. In this paper, an approach of the real-time location of these devices is proposed, and it is called "symbolic". The principle is described, as well as the practical implementation and the data that can be retrieved. In the second part, an analysis of the results obtained is provided in two directions: the location of stretchers and the determination of travel times. The methodology followed is described, and it is shown that a correct positioning rate of 90% is reached, which is slightly lower than expected, explained by the chosen practical implementation. Moreover, the average error on the determination of travel times is approximately ten seconds on 2 to 7 min trips. The "reliability" (the terminology of which is discussed at the end of the paper) of the results is related to the simplicity of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]