Zipline Expands US Drones Prescription Delivery with New Partnerships
US-based logistics company, Zipline has announced new partnerships with Mayo Clinic and Memorial Hermann Health System. According to HealthCareITNews, these partnerships will enable the company to expand its drones prescription delivery services across four US cities.
Drone delivery of prescriptions became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic as healthcare providers and retailers realized the benefits it offered. According to University of Cincinnati’s Manish Kumar, drones have the advantage of using cellular or satellite communication to navigate.
System Integrations
Based in Texas, Memorial Hermann Health System will integrate Zipline’s prescription delivery via drones strategy to transport medical supplies and specialty prescriptions to patients within Houston.
“Innovators like Memorial Hermann are leading the way to bring better care to the U.S., and it’s going to happen much faster than you might expect,” Zipline’s Co-Founder and CEO, Keller Rinaudo Cliffton said.
Zipline new partnership with Mayo Clinic is set to add value to the hospital-at-home program that the clinic runs. In a statement published on Zipline’s website, the company said it will integrate its Platform 2 (P2) service into Mayo Clinic campuses in four cities – Rochester, Jacksonville, Minnesota, and Florida.
This integration will allow Mayo Clinic to leverage Zipline’s autonomous drones to fast-track medical deliveries for patients enrolled in its advanced hospital-at-home program.
Quick and Convenient
Drones prescription delivery can help hasten healthcare goals for providers who desire to meet patients irrespective of their location. It provides patients with the transportation they need to improve their medication input while streamlining healthcare for patient needs.
According to Alec King, Memorial Hermann Health System Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, drone deliveries will allow patients in Houston to receive the medication they need quickly, conveniently, and at no additional cost.
In a statement issued last month, King went on record saying, “As a system, we are continuously seeking ways to improve the patient experience and bring greater health and value to the communities we serve.”
Future Plans
With time, Memorial Hermann will explore the use of Zipline drones prescription delivery to transport lab samples, supplies, and medicines across its facilities. Zipline says its drones can withstand extreme weather including wind, rain, and extreme cold to transport medicines to patients.
Most importantly, patients can track the drones dispatched to make medical deliveries to their homes. Zipline plans to work with partners, including Walmart, to launch prescription delivery drones in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In the coming years, the logistics company is looking to serve 30 million patients across 11 states.
