July 15, 2022 – MultiCare Health System, a not-for-profit healthcare organization in Washington, and Zipline, the global leader in instant logistics, today announced a partnership to launch the state’s first commercial drone deliveries. Zipline’s electric, autonomous aircraft will deliver a range of medical products throughout MultiCare’s network of facilities, including hospitals, laboratories and doctors’ offices.
MultiCare will first use Zipline’s instant delivery solution to serve facilities in the Tacoma area. The drones will deliver various medical supplies including lab samples, medications and test kits. The goal of the partnership is to create a faster, on-demand delivery model for MultiCare’s providers and improve the patient experience.
“Making sure our providers have what they need, when they need it, is a critical part of providing affordable and accessible care to patients,” said Florence Chang, president of MultiCare. “We are always looking for like-minded partners who can help us improve the care we provide to the communities we serve in a sustainable and reliable way.”
The World Economic Forum reported urban last-mile delivery will result in a significant increase in emissions and traffic congestion if unchecked. Zipline’s electric fleet is the sustainable solution to increase healthcare access and convenience, reducing street congestion and cutting emissions by upwards of 96% when compared to standard modes of transport.
Zipline and MultiCare intend to begin deliveries in 2024 pending regulatory approvals and will serve Pacific Northwest constituents over the next two years.