Tampa General Hospital, Manatee County and ArcherFRS Introduce First-In-The-Nation Program to Deliver Life-Saving Emergency Response Equipment Via Drone Delivery

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Apr 23, 2024, 12:52 ET

FAA-approved drone technology will accelerate response to 9-1-1 callers in Manatee County coverage area.

Video Link: https://mediashare.tgh.org/drone

TAMPA, Fla., April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of Tampa General Hospital's (TGH) commitment to transforming health care through innovation, the academic health system collaborated with Manatee County and Archer First Response Systems (ArcherFRS) to accelerate response times to health-related emergencies with drone delivery. The 9-1-1 integrated drone delivery system sponsored by Tampa General will provide life-saving equipment to eligible 9-1-1 callers in Manatee County coverage area beginning May 1.

As part of Tampa General Hospital’s (TGH) commitment to transforming health care through innovation, the academic health system collaborated with Manatee County and Archer First Response Systems (ArcherFRS) on a first-in-the-nation program to deliver life-saving emergency response equipment via drone delivery. The drone can deliver a defibrillator and a dose of Narcan.

"Through the use of technology and innovation, Tampa General Hospital is transforming health care," said John Couris, president and CEO of TGH. "This first-in-the-nation program can effectively save lives by responding to health-related emergencies faster than ever before. We're grateful to our partners in Manatee County, and we're excited to see this vision come to life. With the ability to measure the impact of this program on the community, we can determine how the technology can be used in more scalable, reproducible ways for the broader benefit of our state."

This program marks the first-in-the-nation use of drone technology to support emergency response efforts with the delivery of a payload carrying an automated external defibrillator (AED), NARCAN Nasal Spray and a tourniquet. With rapid access to lifesaving equipment, individuals benefit from increased chance of survival and better health outcomes.

"ArcherFRS is committed to ushering in the next generation of life-saving emergency response. Sudden cardiac arrest, opioid overdose and trauma impact hundreds of thousands of people in the United States each year; there is a real need for a paradigm shift in the treatment and response to these time-critical emergencies," said Gordon Folkes, founder and chief executive officer of ArcherFRS. "Unmanned aircraft provide a unique utility in their ability to fly quickly and directly to the scene of an emergency and pose exceptional promise to decrease response times, save lives and improve outcomes. We are excited, together with Manatee County Public Safety and Tampa General Hospital, to redefine what is possible and raise the bar when it comes to cardiac arrest, overdose and trauma response."

ArcherFRS utilizes Freefly Systems AltaX unmanned aircraft equipped with an ASTM-certified Parachute Recovery system, ADS-B receiver, on-board computer and LTE cell modem. The system is installed at the Manatee County EMS Lakewood Ranch Station on Malachite Drive and will serve a 3.5 square mile area of coverage Monday through Friday during daylight hours. The goal is to expand coverage area to 35 square miles, 24-hours-per-day, 7-days-per-week with additional approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Tampa General and Archer FRS briefed the Manatee County Commission on the status of the program at a public meeting today, where local leaders expressed overwhelming support for the innovative program. Public notices will be mailed this week to area residents informing them of the drone delivery system.

"This is an amazing opportunity to be on the cutting edge of technology in emergency response," said Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Chair Mike Rahn. "We are excited that this first-of-its-kind program is taking flight first here in Manatee County."

Beginning May 1, when an individual in the coverage area calls 9-1-1 with reports of cardiac arrest, opioid overdose or trauma, the Manatee County ECC Dispatch will initiate deployment of the ArcherFRS drone. The equipment is expected to reach the caller between 1 minute 45 seconds and 2 minutes 10 seconds. Dispatch will walk the 9-1-1 caller through the application of the equipment needed while traditional emergency response vehicles are en route.

Over the next 12 months, TGH, ArcherFRS and Manatee County will evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the program to determine how the technology can be utilized to serve more residents across the state.

AEDs are used to respond to individuals experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Each year, 350,000 people in the United States experience a cardiac arrest outside the hospital and only 10% survive. NARCAN Nasal Spray can prevent death in the event of overexposure to opioids. Last year, more than 112,000 Americans died from opioid-related exposure. The tourniquet is used to apply pressure and stop blood loss for individuals with trauma-related injuries. Each payload delivered by the drone includes one AED and one dose of NARCAN Nasal Spray. In the coming weeks, the payload will be expanded to include one tourniquet. Rapid delivery of this life-saving equipment can significantly improve patient outcomes. Any 9-1-1 caller in the coverage area that utilizes the equipment will benefit from the drone delivery at no cost to them.

"Our team has diligently worked with the FAA to ensure strict adherence to safety standards for the deployment of life-saving equipment via drones within the Manatee County community," said Jason Swoboda, director of innovation at Tampa General Hospital. "Over the past several years, we have engaged with the FAA to align both the drone technology and the operational protocols with the FAA's rigorous requirements. Our commitment remains in prioritizing the safety and reliability of the program."

Manatee County residents seeking more information on the program can visit https://www.mymanatee.org/drone.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL
Tampa General Hospital, a 981-bed, not-for-profit, academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2023-24 Best Hospitals, with six specialties ranking among the top 50 best hospital programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings – in the top 100 nationally in the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women and top 25 in Florida in the 2023 America's Best Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2021, provided a net community benefit of approximately $240.3 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes TGH North which is comprised of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties, 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Outpatient Center, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

ABOUT ARCHERFRS
Archer First Response Systems stands at the forefront of emergency response innovation, providing comprehensive turnkey solutions for 911 integrated drone deployment. Our primary focus lies in equipping first responders with the ability to transport critical medical supplies, including AEDs swiftly and efficiently for cardiac emergencies and Narcan for overdose situations. By streamlining the adoption process for emergency drone delivery, we empower 911 agencies to seamlessly incorporate this life-saving technology into their operational workflows. Through our efforts, we aim to significantly reduce response times, enhance clinical outcomes, and ultimately help first responders save more lives. ArcherFRS remains committed to advancing the field of emergency medical services through unparalleled expertise, paradigm-shifting technology, and unwavering dedication to community safety and well-being.

ABOUT MANATEE COUNTY
Located on Florida's Gulf Coast, Manatee County is bordered by Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg, and Hillsborough County to the north, Hardee and DeSoto counties to the east and Sarasota to the south. The Gulf of Mexico is to the west – along the county's award-winning beaches. Named for the slow-moving sea cow known as the manatee, the county was founded in 1855 and included a vast expanse of more than 5,000 square miles. That huge area was eventually divided into seven different counties, leaving Manatee County at 741 square miles. The 2023 census shows 441,095 full-time residents, but the population increases considerably in the winter season. Top industries include tourism and agriculture. Abundant recreation and entertainment availability and a rapidly expanding supply of homes make Manatee County the idea place to live work and play.