Advocate Health to Launch Nation’s Largest Hospital Drone Delivery Network

Initial flights are planned for 2027 in the Charlotte market, with expansions scheduled for Chicago, Milwaukee, and rural areas of Georgia to enhance access to care.

Advocate Health announced plans to launch the nation’s largest hospital-based drone delivery network, partnering with Zipline to speed delivery of prescriptions, medical supplies, and lab specimens across multiple U.S. markets.

The network is expected to handle more than 100,000 deliveries annually once fully operational, pending regulatory approvals. Initial flights are planned for 2027 in the Charlotte market, with expansions scheduled for Chicago, Milwaukee, and rural areas of Georgia to enhance access to care.

Collin Lane, executive vice president of professional and support services at Advocate Health, said the drone system will ensure patients receive medications and supplies at home, even outside regular pharmacy hours. The program will also transport lab specimens between facilities to reduce turnaround times for critical diagnostic tests.

Zipline, operating on four continents, will provide electric drones capable of hovering up to 300 feet to lower tethered pods without landing. The drones are FAA-approved, designed with redundant flight systems, and can operate in adverse weather and high winds. The company has already completed over 2 million commercial deliveries worldwide.

Hillary Brendzel, managing director of U.S. Markets for Zipline, described the initiative as a new model for hospital-based delivery, enabling faster and more reliable access to medications and supplies.

Lane added that the program is part of Advocate Health’s broader technology-driven strategy to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency, including streamlined pharmacy and lab operations across its facilities.

The initiative positions Advocate Health at the forefront of integrating drone technology into healthcare logistics, aiming to transform both home delivery and intra-hospital transport of critical medical items.

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