Drone deliveries of prescriptions, lab samples and medical supplies will begin operating in Tampa Bay under a new network that will transport items between hospitals and directly to patients’ homes, beginning in Pinellas County in late 2027.
BayCare will build the network with autonomous delivery company Zipline. Service will launch in the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area before expanding across the region. The health system did not disclose the project’s cost.
Providers will place an order into a designated loading station, where an autonomous aircraft retrieves the package and flies to its destination.
Rather than landing, the aircraft remains up to 300 feet above the delivery site while lowering the package to the ground on a tether before returning to a charging station.
BayCare plans to build two charging stations in Pinellas County, where the drones will recharge between flights.
“This new delivery option allows us to serve customers more quickly and reliably while giving patients more flexibility and convenience,” President and Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Conners said in a statement.
Read the latest Tampa business news and updates
“Working with Zipline gives us the opportunity to build a more connected and efficient delivery network across West Central Florida and meet our patients where they are,” said Donna Lynch, BayCare’s vice president of laboratory services.
Zipline has flown more than 135 million autonomous commercial miles and completed more than 20 million deliveries worldwide, according to the company. It has received Federal Aviation Administration approval for its U.S. operations and has expanded into health care, retail and restaurant deliveries.
BayCare said Zipline will not have access to patient medical information. The system uses package characteristics such as weight, dimensions and handling requirements rather than patient records to complete deliveries.
Patients who choose home delivery will receive delivery windows and real-time tracking.
Read More Tampa Bay Business News
Explore the latest Tampa Bay business news, real estate deals, development projects, executive moves and company updates shaping the region.