E66 – Designing and Deploying Drone Programs: Built Environment & Operational Considerations
As drones become integral to healthcare operations, organizations must focus on safe, efficient, and sustainable integration of unmanned aerial systems. This session offers a concise overview of implementing drone programs, covering strategic use-case selection and necessary infrastructure adaptations for secure operations. Drawing insights from real-world health system deployments, participants will discover how drones can enhance pharmacy fulfillment, lab transport, specimen handling, and inter-campus logistics. The session guides attendees in evaluating current infrastructure, creating or updating landing zones, navigating FAA regulations, and modifying clinical and facilities workflows. Whether launching a pilot program or expanding system-wide, participants will gain practical tools to align drone initiatives with organizational goals, prepare facilities for aerial operations, and develop compliant, scalable, and resilient programs.
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