This study conducted an empirical analysis of an ICT-converged emergency medical system integrating wearable biosignal monitoring with autonomous drone delivery, focusing on its acceptability and policy implications for improving cardiovascular emerge...
This study conducted an empirical analysis of an ICT-converged emergency medical system integrating wearable biosignal monitoring with autonomous drone delivery, focusing on its acceptability and policy implications for improving cardiovascular emergency response in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Ulaanbaatar faces serious temporal and spatial limitations in emergency care due to severe traffic congestion, unequal distribution of medical infrastructure, and extreme weather conditions, highlighting the need for technology-based policy interventions. To address these challenges, the study designed an integrated model that detects abnormal biosignals such as electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), body temperature, and level of consciousness (LOC) in real time through wearable devices like HiCardi. Upon detection, an autonomous drone system linked with a hospital control center automatically dispatches a medical kit containing an automated external defibrillator (AED), emergency medication, and a basic first-aid manual. Simulations were conducted across six central districts of Ulaanbaatar, applying Maximum Coverage Location Problem (MCLP) for hospital base coverage, Dijkstra’s algorithm for shortest-path estimation, and weather scenarios (clear, strong wind, inclement weather). Results showed that drone delivery reduced average arrival time by approximately 65-70% compared with ambulances. Delivery success rates were high under clear conditions but significantly decreased under strong wind and inclement weather, confirming weather as a major constraint. The MCLP analysis indicated that a combination of three hospitals could cover about 94% of patients within a 5 km radius. A public survey of 117 Ulaanbaatar residents further revealed that factors such as trust in the drone system (r = 0.42, p < 0.01) and preference for the emergency kit contents (r = 0.37, p < 0.01) were significantly correlated with policy acceptance. Overall, the study empirically demonstrates the technological feasibility and policy applicability of an ICT-converged emergency response system integrating home-based monitoring and drone logistics. The findings suggest that this model can serve as a strategic and institutional framework for public health innovation in countries and cities with limited medical accessibility. Keywords: wearable biosignals, drone emergency delivery, urban emergency medicine, MCLP, GIS optimization, acceptability, policy implications, Ulaanbaatar