Can drones save lives and money? An economic evaluation of airborne delivery of automated external defibrillators

Johann W. A. Röper (), Katharina Fischer, Mina Carolina Baumgarten, Karl Christian Thies, Klaus Hahnenkamp and Steffen Fleßa
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Johann W. A. Röper: University of Greifswald
Katharina Fischer: University of Greifswald
Mina Carolina Baumgarten: University of Greifswald
Karl Christian Thies: EvKB, Bielefeld University Hospitals
Klaus Hahnenkamp: University of Greifswald
Steffen Fleßa: University of Greifswald

The European Journal of Health Economics, 2023, vol. 24, issue 7, No 10, 1150 pages

Abstract: Abstract Background Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one of the most frequent causes of death in Europe. Emergency medical services often struggle to reach the patient in time, particularly in rural areas. To improve outcome, early defibrillation is required which significantly increases neurologically intact survival. Consequently, many countries place Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in accessible public locations. However, these stationary devices are frequently not available out of hours or too far away in emergencies. An innovative approach to mustering AED is the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which deliver the device to the scene. Methods This paper evaluates the economic implications of stationary AED versus airborne delivery using scenario-based cost analysis. As an example, we focus on the rural district of Vorpommern-Greifswald in Germany. Formulae are developed to calculate the cost of stationary and airborne AED networks. Scenarios include different catchment areas, delivery times and unit costs. Results UAS-based delivery of AEDs is more cost-efficient than maintaining traditional stationary networks. The results show that equipping cardiac arrest hot spots in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald with airborne AEDs with a response time

Keywords: AED; Out of hospital cardiac arrest; Drone; Emergency medical care; UAS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s10198-022-01531-0

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