Non-profit medical group Mayo Clinic is set to launch same-day prescription drug deliveries using autonomous drones, starting in 2025.
The clinic has partnered with Zipline, the world's largest commercial drone delivery company, to make at-home healthcare breakthrough a reality (via Star Tribune).
Mayo Clinic partners with Zipline to launch same-day prescription drug deliveries using autonomous drones in the US, starting in 2025.Image via Zipline
Making Drug Deliveries Faster, More Convenient
Zipline has been doing medical drone deliveries since 2016, successfully operating in Rwanda and other African countries. According to its website, the company has already completed more than a million deliveries in more than 77 million miles flown,
The company has now expanded its reach to the United States, where it began medical deliveries amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Zipline's partnership with Mayo Clinic aims to provide patients with faster and more convenient access to their medications.
"[Medical drone deliveries] is a far more convenient experience, and it makes care more accessible for everyone: from people without reliable transportation to folks who are just too busy to take on another errand," said Jeff Williams, head of US operations for Zipline.
The new delivery system will initially be tested in Jacksonville, Florida, before expanding to Mayo Clinic's primary campus in Rochester, Minnesota.
The service will use Zipline's latest technology, the Platform 2 (P2) delivery drone, capable of reaching up to 60 mph and carrying weights of 6 to 8 pounds. For patients living within a 10-mile radius of the provider, deliveries could arrive in as little as 10 minutes.
Jim Francis, chair of Supply Chain Management at Mayo Clinic, believes drone deliveries enhance the telehealth or virtual care experience by providing a seamless and convenient way to deliver products directly to patients' homes.
The drones will not only deliver prescription medications but will also be used for the transportation of samples and tests across Mayo Clinic campuses. This integration is expected to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Mayo Clinic's Advanced Care at Home model, which has already served 2,600 patients.
Zipline's P2 drones use advanced technology, including GPS and multiple sensors, to ensure precise deliveries. Unlike previous models that relied on parachutes, the P2 drone can deliver packages to a zone as small as a patio table.
The system employs a droid that releases the package and then returns to its docking station, ensuring a high level of accuracy and reliability.
Growing Trend of Medical Drone Delivery
The implementation of drone delivery services at Mayo Clinic is part of a broader trend in the healthcare industry. Other health systems, such as Cleveland Clinic, Intermountain Health, and Michigan Medicine have also partnered with Zipline for similar initiatives.
While there are challenges, such as navigating Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, the benefits of drone delivery are significant.
The FAA has authorized Zipline to conduct commercial package deliveries beyond the operator's visual line of sight in Salt Lake City, paving the way for broader implementation.
