UMES Testing Drone Pharmacy Delivery in Somerset Co.
(CRISFIELD, Md) – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is testing out a new method to help deliver prescription drugs.
Monday was the start of a series of tests for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, one that could be in effect soon. As they’re seeing if it’s possible to deliver medications to people via drones.
UMES Associate Professor, Rozalina McCoy says, “We wanted to partner with a local community where we have the ability to make an impact by bringing this technology and a resource to the community. So I think here in Crisfield, as well as on the neighboring Smith Island…”
Monday’s first test is a simple one, flying a drone from Marion’s Pharmacy on Crisfield Highway, to City Hall just over a mile away.
Maddie Johns is the pharmacy manager at Marion’s Pharmacy, and she believes this could completely change how they’re able to get medications to people.
She tells us, “Right now we deliver by the booth. So I mean, if we have medicine that comes in after the boats leave, I think it’s a win win for everybody, especially antibiotics that come in after the boats leave for Tangier or Smith Island. We can just put them on a drone and send them over.”
And being able to potentially take to the skies of Somerset County will be a massive benefit, especially when it goes around a regular problem in Crisfield.
“We’re definitely in the area where there’s a lot of tide that we can’t get to a lot of patients. So we were pretty honored that they picked us,” says Maddie.
And the ability to get medication to people by drone can possibly save a life.
Rozalina tells us, “For many of my patients, even going one day without a medication can be life threatening. So having a way for pharmacies to easily deliver medications to patients homes in a timely matter is extremely important.”
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore plans to begin testing drone travel to Smith Island this winter, but they’re going to need larger drones to accomplish the flight over the Tangier Sound.
