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by DRONELIFE Staff Author Ian M. Crosby
OhioHealth has announced a partnership with Zipline to integrate its drone delivery service into OhioHealth’s network.
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OhioHealth will use Zipline’s latest Platform 2 to deliver prescriptions straight to patients’ homes, in addition to to move lab samples and supplies between OhioHealth facilities. By 2025, the partnership is anticipated to form an initial network with the power to deliver to almost 2 million people within the greater Columbus area. The partnership will enable faster diagnostic turnaround times, direct-to-home prescription delivery, and lower carbon emissions attributable to Zipline’s fully electric platform.
“Zipline drone delivery provides an amazing alternative for OhioHealth as we glance to grow our home infusion and specialty pharmacy home delivery services,” said OhioHealth Vice President of Pharmacy Services Charles McCluskey III. “It gets products to patients more quickly and at a lower cost, and uses less carbon intensive packing materials in comparison with our traditional delivery methods.”
“We’re consistently taking a look at how one can optimize the logistics of OhioHealth’s network of acute and non-acute points of care,” said OhioHealth Senior Director of Logistics/Sterile Processing Joshua Dritz. “And with our initial Zipline deployment, focused on the laboratory operations, we are going to significantly cut the time it takes to process lab samples and diagnostics, giving our physicians the knowledge they should make informed decisions faster.”
“We’re in a position to move lab samples between facilities in minutes and at a moment’s notice, as an alternative of the hours it will probably currently take. That point savings is invaluable at every stage of the healthcare journey and might mean that folks get diagnosed and treated faster, leading to higher health outcomes,” said Hillary Brendzel, Head of Zipline’s U.S. Healthcare Practice. “Our service is sustainable, reliable, and already proven to enhance people’s health and save lives. It’s designed to be so quiet that it blends into the background of life. We’re thrilled to partner with OhioHealth on bringing our innovations to the people they serve across the state.”
Zipline’s home delivery service is anticipated to deliver as much as seven times faster than traditional automobile delivery, completing 10-mile deliveries in about 10 minutes, and reduces emissions by as much as 97% in comparison with traditional delivery methods. Zipline’s nearly inaudible drones fly over 300 feet above ground and remain at that altitude upon arriving on the delivery location, hovering safely while its fully autonomous delivery droid maneuvers down a tether to softly and accurately drop off its package.
Third-party studies indicate that Zipline’s system helps to avoid wasting lives, increase care, and improve patient outcomes. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania observed an 88% reduction of in-hospital maternal deaths from postpartum hemorrhage because of Zipline’s logistics and delivery system. Several U.S. organizations corresponding to sweetgreen, Michigan Medicine, MultiCare Health Systems, Intermountain Health, and GNC have already signed on to make use of Zipline’s Platform 2 system.
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