Drone delivery network set to transform hospital logistics and patient care in the USA

Advocate Health has announced plans to launch what it describes as the largest hospital-based drone delivery network in the USA, aimed at improving patient access to medications, lab services, and home health supplies.

Created in partnership with Zipline, the system will enable rapid transport of prescriptions, medical supplies, and lab specimens. At full scale, the network is expected to handle more than 100,000 deliveries annually across key markets, with initial operations beginning in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2027 before expanding to Chicago, Milwaukee, and potentially Georgia.

The drones will also accelerate the movement of lab samples between facilities, reducing turnaround times for diagnostics.

Zipline’s electric aircraft will transport payloads autonomously, lowering deliveries via tether from up to 300ft, allowing for precise drop-offs even in adverse weather. The systems are Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved and designed with redundant safety features.

Hillary Brendzel of Zipline said the partnership highlighted how drone delivery was becoming “a new cornerstone of how health systems serve their communities. Faster deliveries of medications and supplies mean a better experience for patients across Advocate Health’s regions.”

Advocate Health said the initiative supported its wider strategy to expand access, particularly in rural areas.

ANA Holdings recently completed a series of long-distance medical logistics drone trials in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture.