Four inventors at the University of Cincinnati have created a telehealth drone that can fly right into patients' homes.
Officials say the device could help improve access to medical services regardless of location. For instance, more than 1 billion people live off dirt roads, which can limit access to doctors, pharmacies or hospitals.
The semi-autonomous drone, officials say, features cameras and a display screen so health care professionals can communicate with patients on the other end. It also carries a waterproof box to deliver medical supplies or collect self-administered lab tests.
The drone is being developed by:
- Victoria Wangia-Anderson, professor of health informatics in UC's College of Allied Health Sciences
- Manish Kumar, professor of medical engineering, director of the CDS Lab and co-director fo the UAV MASTER Lab within the UC College of Engineering and Applied Science
- Seung-Yeon, associate professor of nutrition sciences in the UC College of Allied Health Sciences
- Debi Sampsel, director of telehealth at UC's College of Nursing.
The team secured a grant through the UC Office of Research to develop its prototype to test the drone's feasibility.
"We can perform all kinds of functions: chronic disease management, post-operative care monitoring, health coaching and consultations," Sampsel said in a statement. "And in the health care arena, there is no age limit. Telehealth services are useful from birth to death."
Telehealth has emerged during the coronavirus pandemic as a key component of health care solutions. During a recent Business Courier event, Dr. Robert Prichard Jr., chief clinical integration officer for St. Elizabeth Healthcare, discussed the surge in telemedicine, with the Northern Kentucky hospital giant now seeing 10%-15% of its daily visits take place virtually.
To learn more about the project, click here.
