Mr Han-Wei Lee1
1Corvanta, Brisbane, Australia
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased workloads on paramedics in Australia, resulting in longer wait times for emergency medical services. Meanwhile, KFC has started using drones to deliver food in Queensland. This begs the question: why can’t we use drones for AED delivery to save lives?
Cardiac arrest is a major cause of death in Australia, with around 118 Australians dying from cardiovascular disease every day. The cost of providing healthcare services to admitted patients with CVD is approximately $5 billion per year, the largest share of health expenditure of any disease group. Survival rates in OHCA decrease by 10% every minute, making response time critical.
Drones can significantly improve response times and outcomes in cardiac arrest cases. Besides AED delivery, drones can also carry trauma kits and EpiPens, and be used for search and rescue, scene surveillance, and cross-agency support. However, the current usage of drones for medical emergencies is limited.
This presentation will explore clinical evidence and showcase the potential of drones to supplement existing service delivery and improve survival rates. The audience will learn about drone capabilities and the current state of play of their usage. Furthermore, the presentation will provide actionable steps on how people can support the adoption of drone technology in out-of-hospital care.
In conclusion, the increased need for innovation in emergency medical services requires the adoption of drones for AED delivery and other medical supplies. With proven solutions that improve response times, drones are ready to save lives when every second counts.
Biography:
Han-Wei brings 20 years of health care and leadership experience to Corvanta, most recently as a Wilderness Paramedic and Health Incident Controller for the COVID-19 Response.
He held key positions with Ambulance Tasmania, including Ambulance Commander – Emergency Operations Centre, and Project Manager, Emergency Services Computer Aided Dispatch Project (ESCAD).