Balasubramanian in "Drones May Become ‘The Next Big Thing’ In Healthcare Delivery" (2022) explains the uses and impacts drones have in the healthcare industry. Balasubramanian (2022) mentions drones have the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery by providing access to hard-to-reach patients and delivering healthcare supplies and goods. It was also used for telehealth, virtual care, delivering Covid-19 vaccines, and dispatching automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to save out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. Balasubramanian (2022) also states that drones were able to provide time-saving benefits in emergency situations, with a successful delivery rate of 92%. In another finding, Balasubramanian (2022) discusses an autonomous drone helped save the life of a man who experienced an OHCA by delivering an AED in just over three minutes. With concrete evidence drones can deliver, Balasubramanian (2022) explains that large retailers such as Amazon, have already begun testing and using drone technology for retail needs for widespread use. This will lower the costs of drone technology and make it more accessible for healthcare organizations. With continued development, drones will have the potential to provide significant value in timely healthcare delivery and measurable healthcare outcomes.
Despite the potential benefits healthcare drones hold, the implementation and widespread adoption of this technology face limitations concerning the regulatory security system and the malfunctions of drones.
One of the key concerns is the security system of healthcare drones. According to Digi International (2021), hacking a drone is akin to hacking a computer and can be done remotely by intercepting the radio signal, which is often unencrypted. Hackers can then decode the signal using a packet sniffer and, once connected, they will manipulate the drone to suit their purpose by blocking its signal and linking it to their device. An example given by Digi International (2021) explains a technique created by hackers called ''GPS spoofing'' to deceive the drone by sending false GPS coordinates to its receiver. This causes the operator to believe that the drone is following the correct flight pattern when, in fact, is being directed to a different location, potentially allowing the hacker to crash the drone, access and steals its data, navigate it to their desired location, or delivery of dangerous payloads. Digi International (2021) further elaborates that a compromised drone can create a backdoor into an organization's wireless network, leading to network interference and negatively impacting productivity and profitability. Data theft can result in costly downtime for businesses, harm relationships with clients or customers, and allow competitors to gain access to proprietary information and trade secrets. To measures taken to enhance security, Threatpost (2022) explains the data used to generate the FHSS sequence should not be transmitted wirelessly. Improving the random number generator could involve implementing a more secure algorithm or modifying the existing algorithm to eliminate repeated sequences.
The malfunction of drones can pose a significant danger. Several well-known drone crashes have already occurred worldwide. Šterbenc; Poljak, (2019) share incidents that occurred near a stadium during a US Open tennis tournament, a close call hit upon the world champion Marcel Hirscher during the Ski World Cup, and a recent crash of a Swiss Post drone into Lake Zurich. Additionally, Šterbenc; Poljak, (2019) recall that a website dedicated to tracking military drone crashes has recorded 305 incidents since 2007. While some safety concerns have been addressed through the use of drone parachutes and autonomous crash management systems, further improvements need to be done. To prevent collisions, protect transported materials, and ensure the safety of those on the ground, Šterbenc; Poljak, (2019) suggest a highly trained and experienced workforce will be necessary for future large-scale drone operating centers where multiple drones are conducting missions at the same time.
The benefit of having healthcare drones aids in reducing the time and cost of healthcare delivery. According to Balasubramanian (2022), using drones can help overcome the challenges of traditional land-based delivery methods, such as poor road infrastructure and limited transport options. Drones are faster, more flexible, and can reach remote areas that would otherwise be difficult to access by land. Delivering vaccines and medications directly to rural communities can also help to bridge the gap of accessibility to healthcare between urban and rural areas. Balasubramanian (2022) mentions that in simulation models under a considerable number of circumstances, drones can result in cost reductions of 20-50% compared to conventional land transport for delivering vaccines to healthcare facilities, with the savings varying based on factors such as the size of the population within the drone's range, road conditions, and speed of transport. This proves that drones will be effective in healthcare in the long run.
In conclusion, healthcare drone has revolutionized the way we see the world. With its ability to reach remote locations, gather data, deliver packages, and perform various tasks, healthcare drones are proving to be a valuable tool for various industries as well. However, with the increasing popularity of drones, it is important to ensure that the technology is used responsibly and ethically. The use of drones must be regulated and monitored to protect privacy, security, and the safety of the public. As technology continues to improve, new opportunities will be found to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Reference
Lundgren, P., Nordberg, P., Ringh, M., Schierbeck, S. & Svensson, L. (2021, Aug 26). Automated external defibrillators delivered by drones to patients with suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. European Heart. Journal.https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/43/15/1478/6358076
Balasubramanian, S. (2022, Jan 9). Drones May Become 'The Next Big Thing' In Healthcare Delivery. Forbes.https://www.forbes.com/sites/saibala/2022/01/09/drones-may-become-the-next-big-thing-in-healthcare-delivery/?sh=9357ddd1e9b3
Everdrone AB. (2022, Jan 4). For the first time in medical history, an autonomous drone helps save the life of a cardiac arrest patient. Cision PR Newswire.https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/for-the-first-time-in-medical-history-an-autonomous-drone-helps-save-the-life-of-a-cardiac-arrest-patient-301453744.html
Locke, J. (2021, February 20). Can Drones Be Hacked, Tracked, and Used to Carry Passengers? Www.digi.com. https://www.digi.com/blog/post/can-drones-be-hacked-tracked-and-carry-passengershttps://www.digi.com/blog/post/can-drones-be-hacked-tracked-and-carry-passengers
Poljak, Mario, & Šterbenc, Anja. (2019). Use of drones in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases: current status, challenges and barriers. Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 26. 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.09.014.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336117290_Use_of_drones_in_clinical_microbiology_and_infectious_diseases_current_status_challenges_and_barriers
Threatpost (2022). Hack Allows Drone Takeover Via “ExpressLRS” Protocol. Threatpost.com.https://threatpost.com/drone-hack-expresslrs-hijacked/180133/
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