The Promise of Medical Drones

What comes to mind when you hear the word “drones?” For some, the answer might be a remotely-piloted military aircraft. For others, it might be the little quad-copter you fly around your backyard for fun. But for our guests today, drones might be the future of healthcare.

Other countries have already started experimenting with drone technology in order to deliver medication, blood, or other supplies, and the technology could one day replace or augment some ambulances or emergency helicopters, making such services more accessible, affordable, and safer.

But we aren’t there yet, and here to talk about what it might take to get us there are two healthcare policy experts who just co-authored an essay for STAT entitled “Drones Delivering Medical Supplies and More Can Help Save American Lives.”

• Dr. Darcy Nikol Bryan, an associate clinical professor at the University of California, and a practicing physician at the Riverside Medical Clinic. Also relevant to today’s discussion, she is a certified remote pilot
• Robert Graboyes, PhD economist and senior research fellow here at Mercatus. Bob is an award-winning professor of health economics, and his current research focuses on technological innovation in the healthcare space

Questions, comments, episode ideas? Email Chad at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @ChadMReese.

If you have any questions or comments for Darcy, please send her an email at [email protected]

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Photo credit: World Bank/Flickr