IS UP NEXT ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH..." IT'S A BIRD!

IT'S A PLANE!

IT'S A DRONE!

A PILOT-LESS FLYING ROBOT CONTROLLED REMOTELY OR EVEN FLYING ON ITS OWN?

HOW ARE THEY MAKING HEALTHCARE MORE CONVENIENT AND ACCESSIBLE?

THE GROUND CREW AT UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY'S AIR UPSTATE TELLS US HOW THEIR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP HAS DRONES DELIVERING PRESCRIPTIONS NOW, HOW THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION IS INVOLVED, AND WHAT MIGHT BE TAKING OFF NEXT FOR DRONES IN MEDICINE.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO CYCLE OF HEALTH.

I'M YOUR HOST, DR. RICH O'NEILL.

TONIGHT'S TOPIC: IT'S A BIRD!

IT'S A PLANE!

IT'S A DRONE!

A FLYING ROBOT CONTROLLED REMOTELY OR EVEN FLYING ON ITS OWN?

HOW ARE THEY MAKING HEALTHCARE MORE CONVENIENT AND ACCESSIBLE?

THE GROUND CREW AT UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY'S AIR UPSTATE TELLS US HOW THEIR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP HAS DRONES DELIVERING PRESCRIPTIONS HOW THE F.A.A.

IS INVOLVED AND WHAT MIGHT BE TAKING OFF FOR DRONES NEXT IN THE FUTURE.

NOW, WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS DRONES IN MEDICINE PROGRAM I THOUGHT “WHAT?!!

WE'RE INTENTIONALLY FEATURING REALLY BORING HEALTHCARE PEOPLE AND I'M ALREADY WORRIED BECAUSE I EXPECTED THESE GUYS TO BE WEARING REALLY SNAPPY PILOT HATS OR UNIFORMS OR SOMETHING.

SO, ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE IF THEY CAN GET THIS SHOW OFF THE GROUND.

JOINING US ARE MR. STEVE ROBERTS, DIRECTOR OF IMT AUTONOMOUS MACHINES AT UPSTATE; MR. JEFF CAUSEY, CEO AT CAUSEY AVIATION UNMANNED, INC.; AND MR. MARK ZEMAN, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER AT UPSTATE.

SO, GENTLEMEN, WITH THAT INTRO... >> BORING GENTLEMEN.

>> VERY GOOD.

WE HOPE HOPE NOT.

TELL BUS AIR UPSTATE?

>> I GUESS THE BEST PLACE TO START IS TO JUST TALK ABOUT DRONES IN GENERAL AND PEOPLE WONDER WHAT WE ARE DOING AND THE DRONE, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS.

AND I THINK THE GENERAL PERCEPTION IS THAT THE DRONES ARE TOYS, AND THAT WE ARE JUST HAVING FUN AND THAT IS... >> THAT'S WHAT I HEARD IN THE LUNCH ROOM.

>> I GET THAT A LOT.

YOU KNOW, HONESTLY MORE THAN I WOULD LIKE TO IMAGINE.

BUT THE REALITY IS DRONES HAVE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS IN HEALTHCARE, VERY PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK BEFORE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER SYSTEM.

YOU HAVE STEPS THAT HAVE YOU TO GO THROUGH.

AND EACH STEP HAS DELAYS, BUILT-IN DELAYS.

AND HEALTHCARE, LIKE IN OTHER SYSTEMS, WE WANT TO MINIMIZE THE DELAYS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY GOOD FOR OUR PATIENTS.

THE LONGER THE PATIENTS STAY IN THE HOSPITAL, THE WORSE IT IS TYPICALLY FOR THEM.

THEY WANT TO GET OUT AND THEY WANT TO RECOVER QUICKLY.

>> GET BACK TO THEIR OWN LIFE.

>> BACK TO THEIR OWN LIFE, ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE TRY TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MINIMIZE THOSE DELAYS AND PROVIDE, OBVIOUSLY, SAFE HEALTHCARE AND POSITIVE OUTCOMES.

BUT SOME OF THOSE DELAYS CAN BE ADDRESSED VIA DRONES.

THEY'RE TRANSPORT DELAYS.

AND TYPICALLY THEY INVOLVE LIKE A COURIER SERVICE.

AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT COURIER SERVICES, THEY OPERATE ON A SCHEDULE AND THEY'RE TYPICALLY A CAR AND THEY MOVE THINGS BETWEEN BUILDINGS.

YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE BLOOD PRODUCTS.

IT COULD BE SPECIMENS.

IT COULD BE DRUGS.

AND BECAUSE OF LIMITATIONS OF THE COURIER SERVICE, THEY'RE DONE ON A SCHEDULE.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ON DEMAND.

IT'S EVERY OTHER HOUR OR, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE TIMES A DAY, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

DRONES, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE ON DEMAND.

SO WE CAN LAUNCH A DRONE ANY TIME.

SO IF IT'S-- IF SOMEBODY NEEDS THEIR DRUGS AND WE HAVE TO GET THE DRUGS FROM A PHARMACY AND GIVE THEM TO THE PATIENT BEFORE THEY'RE DISCHARGED, WE CAN DO THAT AS SOON AS THE DRUGS ARE ORDERED SO WE ARE NOT DELAYING THEIR DISCHARGE PROCESS.

>> SO THE DRUGS ARE ORDERED.

YOU GUYS GET THE MESSAGE.

THE PHARMACY PUTS IT TOGETHER AND THEN IMMEDIATELY IT CAN GO TO A DRONE.

>> YES ABSOLUTELY.

THAT GIVES US A BIG ADVANTAGE AND GIVES OUR PATIENTS AN ADVANTAGE.

IT ALSO HELPS WITH DRUG ADHERENCE WHICH IS REALLY CRITICAL FOR PATIENTS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR PATIENTS DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET THEIR DRUGS ONCE THEY'RE DISCHARGED.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE A CAR, THEY MAY NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE SOMEBODY TO HELP THEM WITH THAT.

SO WE WANT TO GET THE DRUGS TO THEM BEFORE THEE DISCHARGED.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR OPERATION ON THE HILL, THAT'S THE FIRST ACTUAL PRODUCTION DRONE OPERATION THAT I'M AWARE OF, IN HEALTHCARE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> IS THAT RIGHT?

>> I BELIEVE SO.

>> WOW.

>> WE MOVE DRUGS FROM OUR SPECIALTY PHARMACY ON THE HILL TO THE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, OUR COMMUNITY HOSPITAL.

AND THAT IS FOR WHAT WE CALL MEDS TO BEDS.

>> MEDS TO BEDS.

>> THAT'S FOR GETTING DRUGS IN THE HANDS OF OUR PATIENTS WHEN WE ARE GETTING DISCHARGED AND THE WAY THAT WORKS IS THE PROVIDER ORDERS THE DRUGS AND THEY'RE FULFILLED AT THE RETAIL PHARMACY AND FLOWN OVER TO THE HOSPITAL AND DELIVERED TO THE PATIENT.

AND THAT TYPICALLY OCCURS IN LESS THAN A HALF HOUR.

SO IT'S A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT, NOT ONLY ON OUR PATIENTS BUT OUR SYSTEM, TOO.

>> AS YOU MAY KNOW, I RECENTLY HAD A HIP DONE AT COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AND I HAD A BUNCH OF DRUGS THAT CAME TO ME BEFORE I LEFT.

I'M THINKING MAYBE THEY WERE DELIVERED BY A DRONE, PRETTY COOL.

>> I ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU THEY WERE.

MOST LIKELY DEFINITELY DELIVERED BY DRONE.

WE, TO MARK'S POINT, ARE TRYING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR DELIVERIES AND THINGS, AND THE OUTPATIENT PHARMACY NEAR COMMUNITY WAS OUR FIRST SETUP AND FIRST OPERATION AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO FIND THE WAY PARTNERS TO WORK WITH A LOT OF REGULATIONS, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE F.A.A.

THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH AND MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING IT SAFELY AND THE RIGHT WAY.

AND WE FOUND JEFF AND HIS TEAM AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THE OPERATIONS UP AT OUTPATIENT PHARMACY FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.

UNDERSTAND COMPLETED OVER 2500 DELIVERIES BY DRONE TO, BETWEEN THE TWO FACILITIES.

AND AS MARK WAS MENTION MENTIONING, WE HAVE REDUCED THE TIMEFRAME.

SO ONCE JEFF'S TEAM GETS THE ORDERS, IT'S VERY REDUCED TIME.

IT'S WITHIN 15 MINUTES OR UNDER USUALLY TO GET THE DELIVERY.

>> AMAZING UNDER 15 MINUTES.

SO JEFF, MY ONLY IMAGE OF LITTLE TINY AIRPLANES IS WHEN I WAS A KID AND YOU HAD THE GAS POWERED ONES THAT WERE YOU AFRAID TO SPIN THE PROPELLER BECAUSE THEY COULD CUT YOUR FINGER, RIGHT?

OR GIVE YOU A BUZZ CUT.

THEY WERE ON A SPRING.

TELL BUS THESE DRONES.

>> WELL THESE DRONES HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THEN.

THEY'RE ELECTRICALLY POWERED.

THE PILOTS ARE NOT DIRECTLY CONTROLLING THEM.

THEY'RE CONTROLLED BY THE CLOUD.

SO THEY'RE VERY SAFE.

ONE PILOT CAN OPERATE MULTIPLE DRONES AT A TIME.

SO IN THAT SENSE, THE PILOT BECOMES MORE LIKE AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER THAN A TRADITIONAL PILOT THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IN MIND.

SO A LOT OF SAFETY FEATURES BUILT INTO THESE DRONES.

THEY TAKE CARS OFF THE ROAD.

THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, MUCH MORE-- >> SORRY, SO THEY'RE GREEN.

>> THEY'RE GREEN.

>> ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

THEY REDUCE EMISSIONS.

>> YOU ARE USING PEN EZ OF ELECTRICITY-- PENNIES OF ELECTRICITY IN A 30-POUND DRONE VERSUS A 30,000 POUND CAR.

THEY'RE QUICKER, BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BETTER FOR PATIENTS.

THEY JUST HAVE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF ADVANTAGES.

>> HOW FAST DO THEY GO?

>> THEY GO ANYWHERE FROM 30 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR.

BUT YOU KNOWER, IT'S A DIRECT FLIGHT.

SO THERE IS NO TRAFFIC JAMS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE THE THINGS THAT PATIENTS NEED AROUND THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM VERY QUICKLY.

>> AND THAT'S GREAT.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THEM.

OUR TEAM WENT OUT TO ACTUALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.

GET SOME VIDEO.

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT AIR UPSTATE IN ACTION.

>> UPSTATE IS REALLYIN' VAGUES-- REALLY AN INNOVATION IDEA BORN IN THE COVID TIME ABOUT 2019.

AND WE WERE LOOKING A DIVISION OF PEOPLE TRYING TO BRING DELIVERY FROM PHARMACEUTICALS, SOME SAMPLES.

IT WAS A TIME WHEN ACTUALLY, WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY, THE TECHNOLOGY WAS CREATED WITH DRONES.

AND AT THAT POINT, THEY WERE SAYING LIKE MAYBE WE CAN USE A DRONE TO DO A COVID TEST, TRANSPORT CROAFERRED, YOU KNOW, COVID SAMPLES.

SOMETHING THAT WAS LACKING ON TRANSPORTATION, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT WERE WORKING IN THAT TIME AND ALL THE RELATIONS.

NOW TODAY AIR UPSTATE DOES MORE THAN THAT.

WE DO SOME MEDS TO BEDS PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN DO, VIDEOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHY FOR SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE CAN DO SOME INSPECTIONS OF BUILDINGS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS ON THE SUNY UPSTATE.

MEDS TO BEDS PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE UNDER SUNY UPSTATE AND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL.

AND WHAT THE MEDS TO BEDS PROGRAM DOES IS HELP THE PHARMACEUTICAL NEED TO BE TRANSPORTED BY A SPECIALIST THAT GIVES MEDICINE TO PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING READY TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL AND THEY GIVE THE OPTION TO, INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE PHARMACY, WE HAVE A BAG WITH THEIR PHARMACEUTICALS READY TO GO.

WE GIVE THE REQUEST TO THE PHARMACY.

THE PHARMACY, WE HAVE A VENDOR, THEY'RE CERTIFIED TO OPERATE DRONES.

THEY'RE CERTIFIED BY THE F.A.A.

THEY'RE CALLED PAR IS 07.-- PAR 107.

AND THEN IT WILL BE 135.

IT IS SAFETY FIRST.

THE PILOT WILL CHECK WEATHER, CHECK THE WEIGHT OF THE CARGO, CHECK THEIR EQUIPMENT AND ANYTHING ELSE IN THE AIR SPACE THAT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, AGAINST THE SAFETY OF THE OPERATION.

THE FLIGHT IS ABOUT FOUR MINUTES.

FLYING AN ALTITUDE OF 230 FEET.

THESE DRONES ARE REALLY SAFE.

THEY HAVE A PAIR-- THEY HAVE A PARACHUTE, REDUNDANCY IN GPS AND MOTORS SO ANYTHING THAT ASK HAPPEN, OR COULD HAPPEN ON THIS FLIGHT, IT WILL LAND IN A SAFETY AREA OR RETURN TO HOME, WHICH IS THE OUTPATIENT PHARMACY.

ANYBODY CAN SAY THAT PRIVACY IS AN ISSUE BUT THESE DROAPS ARE FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE THAT SHOULD NOT INVOLVE IN ANY PRIVACY.

THEY'RE ROUTED BY PROFESSIONALS SO TRYING TO AVOID ANY HAZARDS OR FLYING OVER PEOPLE BUT NOW THE REGULATIONS ALLOW YOU IF YOU FLY, TO FLY OVER PEOPLE WITH THE CORRECT CERTIFICATION.

THEY'RE GETTING BETTER WITH TECHNOLOGY.

NOW CURRENTLY WE ARE OPERATING DRONES THAT HAVE VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING AND TRANSITION TO FIXED WING SO WE CAN FLY LONGER DISTANCE AND WE CAN CARRY MORE CARGO.

AND EVENTUALLY, WE ARE GOING TO BE FLYING CONNECTING TWO DIFFERENT HOSPITALS AND IS ABOUT 16 MILES AN HOUR OF FLIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW, WE FLY WITH THE REGULATIONS AND IT WILL BE EVENTUALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE LIVES.

11-49 AMPS.

TRANSITION STARTED.

80 METERS.

85 METERS.

85 METERS.

>> I'M AN FORMER AIR FORCE PILOT.

I HAVE EXPERIENCE DOING SEARCH AND RESCUE WORKING FOR A HUMANITARIAN HEALTH LIKE THE NAWTION IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITIED TO HAVE THE BACKGROUND IN AVIATION AND SEE HOW THE DRONE MACHINES ARE GOING.

I THINK THEY'RE REALLY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE SOME PILOTS MOVING TO THAT AREA WHERE THEY UNDERSTAND THE AIR SPEED AND THE REGULATIONS AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE PROCEDURES OF HOW FLIGHT WORKS.

SO CONNECTED FROM A TO Z AND NOW HELPING THE MEDICAL DELIVERY, I THINK THEY'RE REALLY CONNECTEDS AND IT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE BEING SAFED BECAUSE OF THIS EQUIPMENT.

>> SO THAT'S SOME PRETTY IMPRESSIVE VIDEO THERE, AND I SAW THAT BIG DRONE.

SO TELL US ABOUT THE BIG DRONE.

WHAT IS THAT GOING TO BE DOING?

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE DELIVERING DRUGS TO PLY MY BACKYARD.

>> NOT UNLESS YOU LIVE REALLY FAR AWAY POTENTIALLY.

>> WOULD I HAVE TO MOW A LANDING STRIP.

>> GIVE YOU A BIG QR CODE FOR THE BACKYARD, RIGHT?

BUT YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO, DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRONES FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

IT'S NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF INVESTMENT FROM DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE AND MUNICIPALITIES TO BUILD DRONE FRIENDLY ECOSYSTEM.

SO WHAT YOU SAW IN THE VIDEOS, SOME SMALLER DRONES DOING DELIVERY FOR SHORT DISSANCE-- DISTANCES AND THE LARGER PLANE TYPE DRONE IS FOR THE LONGER DELIVERY.

SO THAT USE CASE WOULD BE COMING FROM, YOU KNOW, DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE, OUR PHARMACY, TO POTENTIAL OUT TO VERONA CANCER CENTER AND THAT'S AIR-- THAT'S A LONG RANGE GOAL FOR US TO CONNECT LONGER RANGE FATS AND PEOPLE TO HEALTHCARE.

>> NOW THAT LARGER DRONE.

WOULD THAT WOULD BE ON THE F.A.A.

'S F.A.A., THEIR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM OR WOULD IT BE PREPROGRAMMED LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, JEFF, TO FLY AT A CERTAIN FLIGHT PATH AND THEY WOULD JUST KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE TO WATCH THIS?

>> THE F.A.A.

IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH US AND OTHER COMPANIES LIKE US TO PERFECT THAT TECHNOLOGY.

OF COURSE WE HAVE THE SAFEST AIR FACE IN THE WORLD, AND WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY WHILE WE, AT THE SAME TIME, KEEP UP WITH OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD AND INNOVATION AND SO THE F.A.A.

HAS INTRODUCED A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO INCORPORATE DRONES INTO OUR NATIONAL AIR SPACE AND TO MAKE THAT A SAFE REALITY.

>> SO THEY'RE REALLY KEEPING AN EYE ON EVERYTHING THAT'S DONE.

HAVE THERE BEEN ANY COMMERCIAL DRONE ACCIDENTS THAT YOU KNOW OF?

>> NOTHING SIGNIFICANT IN THE UNITED STATES THAT I'M AWARE OF.

>> SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING LIKE A BUS CUSTODY FROM A DRONE COMING DOWN?

NOTHING LIKE WHEN I WAS A KID.

SO WHEN WE SAW THE DELIVERY, IT ACTUALLY HOVERS?

HOW HIGHDOES IT HOVER AND DROP DOWN THE DELIVERY.

>> THE DRONES THAT ARE DELIVERED FROM THE AIR, OF COURSE, DON'T LAND.

THEY HOVER AT ABOUT 80 FEET AND THEY CAN MAKE DELIVERIES TO YOUR BACKYARD.

IN THE CASE OF A PRESCRIPTION, THEY CAN MAKE DELIVERIES TO DIFFERENT HEALTHCARE CENTERS, SO IT'S-- IT'S BEEN DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND AND THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T ACTUALLY LAND TO MAKE THEIR DELIVERY.

>> I IMAGINE THAT-- >> I THINK, RICH, THE ONE THING THAT WE PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO IS SAFETY.

>> I BET.

>> THAT IS OUR FIRST AND PRIMARY CONCERN IS FLYING SAFELY.

AND IF YOU EVER SEE THESE GUYS OPERATE THE DRONES, YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY OPERATE THEM AS PILOTS , YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A CHECKLIST.

THEY GO THROUGH CERTAIN PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS.

SO THEY'RE ALWAYS FLYING AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.

AND THEN THE DRONES THEMSELVES, ARE RIGGED TO FLY SAFE SO THEY HAVE REDUNDANCY BUILT INTO THEM THAT WILL KEEP THEM FLYING AND THEN IF ALL ELSE FAILS, MANY OF THEM HAVE PARACHUTES, TOO.

>> OH.

>> SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO JUST FALL OUT OF THE SKY.

>> IT WOULD FLOAT DOWN WHAT ABOUT BAD WEATHER?

ARE THERE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT?

>> NOT YET.

THE TECHNOLOGY IS ADVANCING BUT SO FAR, RELATIVELY GOOD WEATHER IS STILL NEEDED BUT THAT WILL CHANGE OVER TIME AS THE TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND, SO ARE WE CURRENTLY, UPSTATE CURRENTLY DOING HOME DELIVERIES WITH THESE DRONES?

>> WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING HOME DELIVERIES WITHIN A CERTAIN AREA AND JEFF'S TEAM IS DOING THAT IN COOPERATION WITH US AND OUTPATIENT FARMLY.

AND WE JUST STARTED THAT PROBABLY ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF OR SO.

THAT IS GOING EXTREMELY WELL PEOPLE REALLY ENJOY GETTING THEIR MEDICINE DELIVERED RIGHT TO THEIR HOUSE.

>> I WANT TO CALL UP AND GET MY NEXT PRESCRIPTION DELIVERED.

CAN I CALL IN?

>> IF YOU ARE IN THE RADIUS.

>> I HAVE TO MOVE?

>> HAVE YOU TO MOVE.

>> THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

BUT PEOPLE-- SO IT JUST HAPPENS, LIKE IF I AM IN THAT AREA, DO PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY CAN CALL IN AND HAVE A DRONE DELIVERED?

DO THEY JUST-- HOW DOES IT WORK?

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION?

>> WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE TOTE TOTAL DETAILS.

OUTPATIENT PHARMACY DOES THAT.

WE DO EVERYTHING COMPLAINTLY.

BUT A BUNCH OF LETTERS CAME OUT, JUSTINE PROVIDED A BUNCH OF POSSIBLE ADDRESSES WHERE IT'S POSSIBLE TO DO THE DELIVERIES CURRENTLY.

ROUGHLY WILL 00 HOMES I BELIEVE AND LETTERS WENT OUT AND THERE IS A SPECIFIED PROCESS THAT ALL PARTIES GO THROUGH TO MAKE SURE WE STAY COMPLAINT, THAT WE REACH OUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN, SET UP A TEST FLIGHT AND SET UP THE DELIVERY OPTION.

>> I'M BETTING YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A WAITING LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE THIS COME TO THEIR HOUSE.

THAT WOULD BE FUN.

ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE GRANDKIDS BECAUSE THE GRANDKIDS WOULD JUST...

I'M INTO GRANDKIDS.

I HAVE IN GRANDKIDS.

SO THAT'S-- THEY WOULD BE REALLY THRILLED.

>> IT BE NEAT TO SEE THE FIRST TIME.

IT IS IMPRESSIVE.

>> WHAT ABOUT FOR THE FUTURE?

WHAT IS ON THE HORIZON SO TO SPEAK FOR DRONES, JEFF?

>> WELL, WE OBVIOUSLY WANT TO EXPAND THESE PILOT PROGRAMS ACROSS THE GREATER SYRACUSE AND CENTRAL NEW YORK AREA.

WE SOON WILL BEGIN OPERATIONS WITH DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE, SO OBVIOUSLY UPSTATE HAS A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF PATIENTS THAT COME DOWNTOWN AND NEED SERVICES AND WE MAY EVEN FLY TO CANADA.

WE HAVE A LOT OF.

>> TELL BUS-- TELL US ABOUT CANADA.

>> AS MARK POINTED OUT IN THE BEGINNING, THE OBJECTIVE IS TO EXTEND OUR HEALTHCARE TO PEOPLE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

SO THERE IS THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, WE CAN EXTEND IT OUT LONGER RANGE, AND NOW WE HAVE SOME AGREEMENTS WITH HOSPITALS IN THE NORTH COUNTRY THIS WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO COLLABORATE WITH THEM SO WE ARE LOOK CAN AT DOING A FLIGHT BETWEEN A COUPLE OF THE HOSPITALS UP NORTH, FIRST ONE WILL BE PROOF OF CONCEPT AND THAT WILL EVENTUALLY OPEN THE CORRIDOR BETWEEN KINGSTON AND SYRACUSE.

>> KINGSTON, ONTARIO.

>> YES.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU BE DELIVERING BACK AND FORTH?

WHAT IS THE THINKING AT THIS POINT?

>> THAT IS TO BE DETERMINED.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING WITH CUSTOMS AND THE F.A.A.

AND THE CANADIAN AVIATION GROUPS UP TO THERE TO MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING.

SO IN THE BEGINNING, IT'S REALLY ESTABLISHING THE ABILITY TO DO THAT WORKING WITH CUSTOMERS-- CUSTOMS.

WE ARE WILL PUT ON THE LIST THINGS THAT WE COULD DELIVER,YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT MEDICAL USE CASES SO THERE WOULD BE MEDICAL SUPPLIES SOME SOME LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT TO ISLANDS IN THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER, YOU KNOW, EPIPENS, AED DEVICES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE POTENTIALLY.

ONCE WE BUILD IT, THERE IS LOTS OF POTENTIAL BUT IT'S REALLY JUST MAKING SURE WE STAY COMPLAINT WITH THE REGULATIONS AND WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

>> I WOULD ALMOST LIKEN IT TO THE SPACE PROGRAM AND OBVIOUSLY ICE NOTHING TO THAT EXTREME, THAT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

>> YOU GUYS WOULD BE WEARING VERY COOL UNIFORMS.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO WEAR THE JUMPSUIT.

>> ME, TOO.

>> WE HAVEN'T GOT ONE OF THOSE YET BUT MAYBE THAT'S NEXT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPACE PROGRAM AND HOW IT EVOLVED OVER TIME, IT WAS A CEER SERIES OF STEPS.

THEY FIRST PUT A MAN INTO ORBIT AND THEN FIGURED OUT HOW TO DOCK TWO SPACE CRAFT IN ORBIT AND THEY FLEW AROUND THE MOON AND EVENTUALLY LANDED ON THE MOON.

IT'S SORT OF THE SAME THING HERE IN THAT WE HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE CAN DO THESE THINGS SAFELY AND ROUTINELY AND THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE TOOLS AND THE PROTOCOLS AND PROCESSES IN PLACE WHERE WE CAN OUR CUSTOMERS, THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE FLYING OVER CAN BE ASSURED THAT WE ARE FLYING SAFELY.

A LOT OF THESE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING NOW, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING, GOING THROUGH THE DEMONSTRATION PROCESS.

AND THEN THAT TENDS TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE AND WE GO ON TO THE NEXT THING BUT IF WE ARE LOOKING TO SERVE SOME OF OUR UNDERSERVED FOLKS IN THE NORTH COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THE ABILITY TO REACH THEM AND SO THESE PILOTS THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH NOW WILL HELP US WITH THAT.

TWO, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WHENEVER, WE'LL HAVE THAT CAPABILITY AND WE WILL KEEP MOVING THAT ENVELOPE AS THE TECHNOLOGY EVOLVES AND AS OUR ABILITY TO EXPLOIT THE TECHNOLOGY INCREASES.

>> SOUNDS VERY EXCITING.

WE ARE COMING IN FOR A LANDING VERY SHORTLY, ONE MINUTE OR LESS.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY LAST MINUTE THINGS YOU WANT TO SAY?

>> I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IT WILL BE TRANSFORMATIONAL.

DRONES WILL EVENTUALLY DO FOR PHYSICAL GOODS WHAT THE INTERNET DOES FOR INFORMATION.

THEY WILL MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO YOU, WHEREVER YOU ARE, WHENEVER YOU NEED IT, PHYSICAL GOODS WILL FIND YOU WHETHER IT'S AN AED OR A PIZZA IT WILL FIND YOU WHEN YOU NEED IT WHERE YOU ARE.

>> I CAN PUT IN MY ORDER FOR MY DRUGS AND A PIZZA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND COME IN A LITTLE HOT BOX.

>> YOU SHOULD EAT SOMETHING BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR MEDS USUALLY.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE, I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS: MR. JEFF CAUSEY, CEO OF CAUSEY AVIATION UNMANNED, INC; MR. STEVE ROBERTS, DIRECTOR OF IMT AUTONOMOUS MACHINES; AND MR. MARK ZEMAN, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, BOTH FROM SUNY UPSTATE NOW, WE HAVE A TRADITION HERE, ‘LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE'.

HOPEFULLY THESE JOKES WON'T ‘FLY OVER' YOUR HEAD: WHY WASN'T THE YOUNG DRONE ABLE TO BE INDEPENDENT?

>> WE DON'T KNOW.

WHY?

>> HELICOPTER PARENTS.

>> I LIKE THAT ONE.

SO, JEFF, HOW IS THE DRONE BUSINESS?

>> IT'S UP AND DOWN.

>> REALLY, I HEARD IT WAS TAKING OFF.

[LAUGHTER] >> TO HEAR OUR NEW COMPANION COMMUNITY FM RADIO SHOW, CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP, VISIT WCNY.ORG/COMMUNITYFM.

AND FOR ONLINE EXTRAS, INCLUDING OUR CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP VIGNETTES, VISIT WCNY.ORG/CYCLEOFHEATH.

FOR ‘CYCLE OF HEALTH', I'M DR. NECKUP PSYCHOLOGIST RICH O'NEILL.

THANKS FOR FLYING IN, HOPE TO SEE YOU ON OUR RADAR NEXT WEEK!

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