Neuartige Luftfahrtmobilität im Gesundheitswesen: Erkenntnisse aus einer qualitativen Interviewserie für den Krankenhaussektor

Germany’s healthcare system is on the brink of meaningful change. Politicians are debating transformative reforms that could shape its future development. This period presents an opportunity to rethink traditional approaches and embrace new technologies. One such innovation is the use of advanced air mobility (e.g., drones and air taxis) in the healthcare transport sector, offering potential improvements in flexibility and efficiency. Ground-based transport faces challenges such as staff shortages and increasing traffic. In this context, aerial mobility solutions like drones and air taxis emerge as promising alternatives. This study explores their potential applications and strategies to unlock their benefits. Technical feasibility, influenced by factors like payload and range, defines which healthcare goods can be transported. The study reveals that timesaving, particularly in life-threatening situations, is the most significant advantage of this technology besides envisioned cost benefits and freed up capacity of medical transport vehicles and staff. For successful integration of these new aircraft into the healthcare system, it is crucial to demonstrate their benefits through low-threshold applications and gather practical experience. The journey from proof of concept to successful large-scale deployment is also discussed in the study. The goal is to optimally utilize available resources and expedite the implementation of innovative aerial mobility in healthcare.