Theme 2: Remote Monitoring and Virtual Care
The Sky is the Limit
Using drones to increase access to health care in remote communities
Lead:
Wade Hawkins
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INNOVATION STAGE
Proof of Concept and Implementation/Integration
Health Innovation Focus
Health Promotion & Prevention
Population and Setting
Adults; Indigenous Communities; Rural & Remote
Technology and Intervention
Robotics, actuators, and human interfaces
BENEFITS
For Users
Improved Access to Care: Drones provide timely delivery of medical supplies and tests to communities otherwise inaccessible by traditional means. Empowered Care: Tele-mentoring enables individuals to administer tests and procedures, fostering self-sufficiency and confidence. Timely Medical Interventions: Faster access to medical resources reduces delays in diagnosis and treatment, improving health outcomes.
For The System
Reduced Geographic Barriers: Drones eliminate logistical challenges in delivering healthcare to remote areas.
Enhanced Efficiency: The integration of tele-mentoring reduces the need for healthcare providers to be physically present, optimizing resource use.
Scalable Solution: This initiative can be expanded to other remote and underserved regions facing similar challenges.
Community Partnerships: Collaboration with Indigenous communities ensures culturally sensitive implementation and strengthens trust in the healthcare system.
Project Theme Information
Remote communities, particularly Indigenous communities, face significant barriers in accessing timely healthcare services due to geographic isolation and limited medical infrastructure. These challenges lead to delays in diagnostics, treatment, and medical support, compromising the health and well-being of residents in these areas. Innovative solutions are needed to overcome these logistical and accessibility challenges.
This initiative introduces the use of drones to deliver medical supplies, tests, and intervention procedures to remote communities. In addition to delivery, the project incorporates tele-mentoring and self-administration guidance for medical tests and procedures, ensuring that healthcare services are accessible and effective despite geographical constraints.
The project utilizes drones to transport medical supplies and test kits directly to remote communities. Alongside delivery, the initiative supports tele-mentoring, enabling healthcare providers to guide community members in performing self-administered medical tests and procedures. The project is implemented in partnership with Indigenous communities, ensuring culturally appropriate solutions. A comprehensive evaluation will assess the impact of this approach on healthcare access and outcomes.
Other Known Cases:
Medical Supply Delivery: Drones are used to deliver emergency medical supplies, vaccines, and blood to remote or disaster-struck areas. For example, Zipline has successfully delivered blood products to hospitals in rural Rwanda and Ghana.
Search and Rescue Operations: Drones assist in locating missing or injured persons in hard-to-reach areas, using thermal imaging to find people in forests, mountains, or during natural disasters.
Telemedicine: Drones equipped with communication devices deliver medical kits and allow doctors to guide patients remotely. This concept has been tested in disaster zones where medical personnel cannot reach quickly.
Organ Transportation: Drones have been tested to transport organs for transplant between hospitals, reducing transportation time significantly and improving patient outcomes.
Get Involved
Explore Partnerships
Email Wade Hawkins to explore partnership opportunities
Get in touch
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View other projects and explore the Health Everywhere Portfolio to see how local innovations are transforming care across the province.
Explore the Health Everywhere Portfolio to see how local innovations are solving real-world challenges and shaping the future of care across the province.
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The Health Everywhere Hub portfolio map showcases academic-led projects tackling real healthcare challenges across Alberta. By highlighting shared goals and commonalities, we hope to spark collaboration and amplify impact across the system.
It’s more than a list of projects - this evolving collection shows what’s possible when partnerships, bold ideas, and real-world testing come together.