Mayo Clinic, a world leader in healthcare, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Zipline, a company pioneering drone delivery technology. This collaboration aims to revolutionize patient care within Mayo Clinic’s innovative Advanced Care at Home model by offering rapid drone delivery of medications and supplies directly to patients’ homes.
“This partnership with Zipline represents a significant step forward in our commitment to providing exceptional care to our patients,” said a spokesperson for Mayo Clinic. “By integrating Zipline’s Platform 2 (P2) drone system into our campuses in Jacksonville, Florida, and Rochester, Minnesota, we can leverage the speed and efficiency of drone delivery to ensure our Advanced Care at Home patients receive the medications and supplies they need within minutes of a critical need arising.”
Mayo Clinic’s Advanced Care at Home program offers a patient-centric alternative to traditional hospital stays. This program allows eligible patients to receive hospital-level care in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes. With the addition of Zipline’s drone delivery service, caregivers can now rely on a swift and reliable method to obtain essential medical supplies in real-time, enhancing the effectiveness and timeliness of in-home treatment.
The P2 system boasts zero-emission, autonomous drones capable of delivering critical medical supplies within minutes. This technology represents a significant advancement in patient care logistics, particularly within the framework of Mayo Clinic’s Advanced Care at Home model, which has already served over 2,600 patients.
Mayo Clinic joins a growing network of healthcare institutions embracing Zipline’s innovative drone delivery solutions. Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston recently signed a partnership with Zipline to launch a similar service in 2026, while Cleveland Clinic announced its own drone delivery program last fall, aiming to deliver specific medications directly to patients’ homes starting in 2025.
Cleveland Clinic’s program initially focuses on delivering specialty medications and prescriptions from various locations across northeast Ohio. The program is expected to expand in the future, encompassing the delivery of lab samples, prescription meals, medical and surgical supplies, and essential items required for hospital-at-home services. These deliveries traditionally rely on ground transportation methods, and Zipline’s drone technology offers a faster and more efficient alternative.
Similarly, Michigan Medicine anticipates doubling its annual in-home pharmacy prescriptions with the implementation of Zipline’s drone delivery service. This initiative aligns with UM Health’s goal of expanding patient access to vital specialty pharmacy services.
Intermountain Health, another healthcare system partnering with Zipline, utilizes P2 drones to deliver prescriptions to patients in the Salt Lake City metro area. This collaboration builds upon Intermountain’s initial foray into drone delivery services, which began in October 2022 with fixed-wing drones delivering specialty pharmaceuticals and specific over-the-counter medications in South Jordan, Utah.
Zipline’s P2 system is poised to revolutionize healthcare delivery across the United States. With plans to expand into 11 states within the next few years, this technology has the potential to reach over 30 million people. The partnership between Mayo Clinic and Zipline represents a significant step towards a future where advanced medical care can be delivered seamlessly and efficiently directly to patients’ homes. This collaboration holds immense promise for enhancing patient experience, improving treatment outcomes, and revolutionizing the landscape of healthcare delivery.
(Hero image credit: Zipline International)
