Novant Health, Zipline delivering PPE and medical supplies to frontline medical teams in NC

May 27, 2020 | AUVSI News

Novant Health Inc., a not-for-profit, integrated healthcare system headquartered in North Carolina, has partnered with Zipline to launch America’s first emergency drone logistics operation by a hospital for its pandemic response.

Novant Health, which operates 15 hospitals and nearly 700 locations in the southeastern United States, was granted a part 107 waiver from the FAA to begin operation under the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) UAS Integration Pilot Program (UAS IPP). The operation will provide contactless distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and critical medical supplies to Novant Health frontline medical teams in the Charlotte, North Carolina metro area.

“Novant Health has long been at the forefront of leveraging technology to enhance how health care is delivered to our patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has tasked us with being even more nimble and innovative in how we solve complex challenges,” says Angela Yochem, executive vice president and chief digital and technology officer, Novant Health.

“Fast-tracking our medical drone transport capability is just one example of how we’re pioneering in the health care industry, which is known for being resistant to change. We are very grateful to the FAA and North Carolina’s DOT for their help to expedite the process during this unprecedented time.”

Zipline drones will be launched from the emergency drone fulfillment center to distribute Novant Health’s critical medical products to its area hospitals. The center, which is adjacent to the Novant Health Logistics Center in Kannapolis, North Carolina, was made possible by Stewart-Haas Racing, whom contributed the site. 

The drones take off from and land at the emergency drone fulfillment center, and require no additional infrastructure at the Novant Health facilities they serve. Deliveries are made from the sky, as the drone descends to a safe height above the ground and drops off a box of medical products via parachute at a designated spot. The drones are capable of carrying close to four pounds of cargo, flying up to 80 miles an hour, even in high winds and rain.

The FAA has approved two initial routes for the launch of operations. Service will begin with flights to Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center and expand in later phases. Flights to initial facilities will range in distance from 20 to 30 miles round trip. Zipline’s drones have a round trip range of more than 100 miles, which makes them capable of delivering medical supplies from the Novant Health Logistics Center to more than 30 additional Novant Health facilities upon approval.

“Hopefully, this project and ones like it can help ease the strain on our medical supply chains,” says N.C. Secretary of Transportation Eric Boyette. “We’re living through an unprecedented situation, and we’re going to need innovative solutions like this to get us through it.”