Dataset Information

The use of drones for the delivery of diagnostic test kits and medical supplies to remote First Nations communities during Covid-19.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Health care inequity in remote and rural Indigenous communities often involves difficulty accessing health care services and supplies. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, or drones, offer a potentially cost-effective method for reducing inequity by removing geographic barriers, increasing timeliness, and improving accessibility of supplies, equipment, and remote care.

Methods

We assessed the feasibility of drones for delivery of supplies, medical equipment, and medical treatment across multiple platforms, including drone fleet development and testing; payload system integration (custom fixed-mount, winch, and parachute); and medical delivery simulations (COVID-19 test kit delivery and return, delivery of personal protective equipment, and remote ultrasound delivery and testing).

Results

Drone operational development has led to a finalized, scalable fleet of small to large drones with functional standard operating procedures across a range of scenarios, and custom payload systems including a fixed-mount, winch-based and parachute-based system. Simulation scenarios were successful, with COVID-19 test swabs returned to the lab with no signal degradation and a remote ultrasound successfully delivered and remotely guided in the field.

Discussion/conclusions

Drone-based medical delivery models offer an innovative approach to addressing longstanding issues of health care access and equity and are particularly relevant in the context of SARS-CoV-2.

SUBMITTER: Flemons K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9329072 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The use of drones for the delivery of diagnostic test kits and medical supplies to remote First Nations communities during Covid-19.

Flemons Kristin K Baylis Barry B Khan Aurang Zeb AZ Kirkpatrick Andrew W AW Whitehead Ken K Moeini Shahab S Schreiber Allister A Lapointe Stephanie S Ashoori Sara S Arif Mishal M Berenger Byron B Conly John J Hawkins Wade W

American journal of infection control 20220801 8

<h4>Background</h4>Health care inequity in remote and rural Indigenous communities often involves difficulty accessing health care services and supplies. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, or drones, offer a potentially cost-effective method for reducing inequity by removing geographic barriers, increasing timeliness, and improving accessibility of supplies, equipment, and remote care.<h4>Methods</h4>We assessed the feasibility of drones for delivery of supplies, medical equipment, and medical t ...[more]

PMID: 35908822

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Dataset Information

The use of drones for the delivery of diagnostic test kits and medical supplies to remote First Nations communities during Covid-19.

Background

Methods

Results

Discussion/conclusions

Publications

The use of drones for the delivery of diagnostic test kits and medical supplies to remote First Nations communities during Covid-19.

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