COLUMBUS, Ohio — OhioHealth has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Zipline, the world’s leading autonomous delivery service, to integrate Zipline’s cutting-edge fully electric drone delivery system into OhioHealth’s extensive network.
Through the utilization of Zipline’s newly-unveiled Platform 2, OhioHealth aims to revolutionize healthcare delivery by providing doorstep prescription deliveries and facilitating seamless movement of lab samples and supplies between OhioHealth facilities. By the year 2025, the collaboration anticipates establishing an initial drone delivery network serving a population of approximately 2 million residents in the greater Columbus area, offering swift, noiseless, and environmentally sustainable delivery services.
This transformative alliance is poised to enhance patient experiences by significantly reducing diagnostic turnaround times, introducing convenient direct-to-home prescription deliveries, and contributing to reduced carbon emissions through Zipline’s emission-free electric drone technology.
Charles McCluskey III, OhioHealth’s Vice President of Pharmacy Services, stated, “Zipline drone delivery provides a great alternative for OhioHealth as we look to grow our home infusion and specialty pharmacy home delivery services. It gets products to patients more quickly and at a lower cost, and uses less carbon intensive packing materials compared to our traditional delivery methods.”
The strategic deployment of Zipline’s technology, initially concentrated on laboratory operations, is expected to substantially expedite the processing of lab samples and diagnostics. Joshua Dritz, OhioHealth’s Senior Director of Logistics/Sterile Processing, emphasized, “We are constantly looking at how to optimize the logistics of OhioHealth’s network of acute and non-acute points of care. And with our initial Zipline deployment, focused on the laboratory operations, we will significantly cut the time it takes to process lab samples and diagnostics, giving our physicians the information they need to make informed decisions faster.”
Furthermore, OhioHealth envisions utilizing Zipline’s drone capabilities to transport urgently needed supplies and equipment to various care sites, demonstrating the versatility and potential of this innovative mode of transportation. Zipline’s groundbreaking platform has been proven to substantially reduce emissions by up to 97% when compared to conventional automotive delivery methods.
Hillary Brendzel, Head of Zipline’s U.S. Healthcare Practice, emphasized the far-reaching impact of this collaboration: “We’re able to move lab samples between facilities in minutes and at a moment’s notice, instead of the hours it can currently take. That time savings is invaluable at every stage of the healthcare journey and can mean that people get diagnosed and treated faster, leading to better health outcomes. Our service is sustainable, reliable, and already proven to improve people’s health and save lives.”
OhioHealth’s adoption of Zipline’s next-generation Platform 2 introduces the deployment of autonomous, electric Zipline drones, known as Zips, capable of rapid, almost silent, pinpoint deliveries across diverse geographical areas. Zipline’s drone-based home delivery service is projected to be up to seven times faster than traditional automobile deliveries, completing 10-mile journeys in approximately 10 minutes. Notably, Zips operate at altitudes exceeding 300 feet and emit minimal noise. Upon arrival at the designated destination, the Zip hovers securely while a fully autonomous delivery droid descends via a tether to accurately deliver packages to compact areas such as patios or doorsteps.
Recent independent studies have underscored the life-saving potential of Zipline’s advanced delivery system. A study from the University of Pennsylvania revealed an 88% reduction in in-hospital maternal deaths resulting from postpartum hemorrhage, attributed to Zipline’s efficient logistics and delivery system. Several prominent U.S. organizations, including sweetgreen, Michigan Medicine, MultiCare Health Systems, Intermountain Health, and GNC, have already committed to implementing Zipline’s Platform 2.
OhioHealth’s collaboration with Zipline represents a pivotal step in the organization’s ongoing commitment to promoting eco-friendly healthcare services and enhancing care accessibility through community-centered initiatives.