The partnership with Zipline aims to reduce turnaround times for results by transporting samples between hospitals and laboratories.
Advocate Health announced it will launch a hospital-based drone delivery network to transport medications, medical supplies, and critical lab samples. The initiative, established through a contract with Zipline, is expected to carry out more than 100,000 deliveries annually once the program reaches full scope.
The first flights are scheduled to deploy in 2027 in the Charlotte, NC, market. Following the initial launch, Advocate Health plans to expand the service to Chicago and Milwaukee. There are also plans to implement the technology in Georgia to increase access to care for rural patients.
For clinical laboratories, the network is designed to facilitate the swift transport of specimens between hospitals and diagnostic facilities. This approach aims to reduce turnaround times for results, which are essential for timely patient diagnosis and treatment.
“Advocate Health is rewiring care delivery by implementing drone technology to deliver medication and health supplies,” says Collin Lane, executive vice president, professional and support services, in a release.
The delivery process begins when an order, such as a lab specimen, is picked up by a Zipline drone at an Advocate Health site. The electric aircraft flies to its destination and remains approximately 300 feet in the air while a pod containing the order descends to the ground on a tether. According to the company, the system is designed to make precise deliveries in high-wind and bad weather conditions.
The aircraft operate with the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration and include redundant flight-critical systems to ensure safety. The technology is intended to minimize sound and human interaction by keeping the aircraft away from people and physical obstacles.
“Zipline will help Advocate Health get patients what they need fast and reliably, even at home. It’s the clearest sign yet that hospital-based drone delivery is a new cornerstone of how health systems serve their communities,” says Hillary Brendzel, managing director, US Markets for Zipline, in a release.
Advocate Health suggests the service will provide a secure way to move lab specimens and supplies while the local pharmacy or traditional transport options may be unavailable.
“Thanks to our vision to always think differently to best meet the needs of our communities, we are transforming how patients access prescription medications and home health supplies while improving efficiency of lab deliveries across our markets,” says Lane in a release. “Advocate Health is excited to lead the way in harnessing the latest technology to improve outcomes for our patients.”
