In the
article “Drones May Become ‘The Next Big Thing’ In Healthcare Delivery,”
Balasubramanian (2022) proposes the idea of using drone technology or UAV
(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in medical industries. UAV is an unmanned aerial
vehicle piloted via remote control or onboard computers and previously intended
for aerial and military use only. Today, drone technology is widely used in
various fields of expertise and exhibits remarkable promise in clinical use. A drone commonly consists of cameras, GPS (Global Positioning
System), an onboard computer with AI (Artificial Intelligence) and numerous types of sensors, allowing for better
independence and efficient flights (Scott & Scott, 2017). The cameras
installed are high-performance, zoom and gimbal Steadicam with tilt
capabilities, which helps to produce more accurate,
sharper images (Lutkevich, B. & Earls, A. R.,
2021). The GPS and onboard computer with AI (Artificial Intelligence)
helps the drone to determine its coordinates,
improving its navigational accuracy. The sensors equipped on the drone, namely
ultrasonic and collision avoidance sensors, help to prevent crashing down and
avoid any potential obstacle. In addition, for a healthcare drone, various
medical equipment related to first aid measures can be incorporated onto the
drone itself, enhancing its life-saving capabilities, such as devices monitoring EKG activity, pulse, blood pressure,
temperature, oxygen saturation and ultrasound (Rhythm Technologies, Inc., n.d.;
Sotera Wireless, Inc., n.d.; Zhao et al. 2015). Healthcare industries should
implement drone technology into their medical services due to its ability to
reach remote areas, transportation of lab samples, specimens and organs that
are time-restricted and delivery of portable medical instruments.
Firstly,
with the quadcopter design, drones can generate enough lift to fly past most
terrains, which helps in reaching rural or remote areas. There are still communities
living in remote areas that are inaccessible via traditional transportation, or
the routes to any medical facilities in the area are blocked due to various
issues like bad terrain, obstacles, or roadblocks (Amukele,
2019). Ling & Draghic (2019) states that with drone technology, it can improve
response times and reduce transportation costs, particularly in rural areas.
Conversely, it can be related to urban areas, where congestion is a nuisance to
emergency medical delivery. Thus, with the
use of drone technology, medical service providers can reach their patients
from remote locations, as drone technology provides
the ability to swiftly bypass obstacles and rough terrains without risking the
service providers (Balasingam, 2017).
Secondly, the
transportation of lab specimens, blood and organs via UAVs can be done using
air-tight, temperature-regulated carriers. Ling & Draghic
(2019) state that a San Francisco Bay-based tech firm, namely Zipline, started
a drone delivery operation in Rwanda that oversees the administration of blood,
plasma, and platelets to various medical facilities within the region (Ling
& Draghic, 2019). This shows that drones can
deliver medical supplies that are extremely sensitive to external factors such
as temperatures and air pressure. Other than that, drones can help in
delivering specimens from medical facilities to laboratories without causing
any contamination of the specimens or adversely affecting laboratory results
(Ling & Draghic, 2019). Furthermore, Nyaaba & Ayamga
(2021) mention that organs can be delivered via aerial drones to ensure the
freshness of organs without damaging them, which will directly affect the
chance of success for any transplant operations.
Lastly, it is possible to use aerial drones to deliver emergency medical aid like automated external defibrillators (AEDs) or first aid kits by securing the equipment onto the drones’ body frame or mechanical clamps. Through this method, drones can deliver the necessary medical equipment to the patients faster than traditional means like ambulances and paramedics, which can drastically improve the survivability of the patients, especially in life-or-death situations. Therefore, drones can provide swift delivery of medical devices to patients, for them to self-administer before the emergency response team arrives at the scene (Boutilier et al., 2017; Ling & Draghic, 2019; Sanfridsson et al., 2019).
However, despite the enormous
potential and various possibilities for the usage of drone technology in
healthcare industries, there are still some downsides that need to be looked at
closely. Firstly, the storage and
transportation of specimens via drones must be rigorous and well-regulated. Any
mismanagement of aspects like the temperature of storage or the duration of
transportation could severely affect drug efficacy and potentially contaminate
the specimen. These compromises could lead to devastating results for the
health and well-being of a patient (Balasingam, 2017). Secondly, the
effectiveness of drones highly depends on whether the person has any or no
professional knowledge of administering medical treatment. Such an arrangement
could be a hindrance compared to traditional methods of medical transport and
the delivery of medical aid (Balasingam, 2017).
In
conclusion, the implementation and usage of drone technology in the healthcare
industry is an idea that we cannot ignore due to its vast possibility and
potential. Its benefits like the ability to reach remote areas, transportation
of lab samples, specimens and organs that are time-restricted and delivery of
portable medical instruments will bring the healthcare industry to the next
level.
References
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