BayCare to use drones
CLEARWATER – BayCare announced it will build a health care drone delivery network.
The optional service will enable faster and more reliable delivery of lab samples, medications and critical supplies between facilities and directly to patients’ homes.
In partnership with Zipline, the network will offer on-demand, contactless delivery with safety, privacy and patient choice at the center of the experience. The network is expected to launch in late 2027, beginning in the St. Petersburg–Clearwater area before expanding across Tampa Bay.
“At BayCare, we’re always looking for ways to remove barriers and make it easier for patients to get the care they need,” said Stephanie Conners, BayCare’s president and CEO. “This new delivery option allows us to serve customers more quickly and reliably while giving patients more flexibility and convenience. It’s one more way we’re extending care beyond our walls and closer to home.”
The delivery process is fast and simple: a provider places an order into a Zipline Dropbox at a designated BayCare site. Zipline’s electric drone autonomously retrieves the order then quietly flies to its destination, whether it’s a patient’s yard or another facility. Upon arrival, the drone stays up to 300 feet in the air while a pod containing the order descends to the ground on a tether. The pod makes precise deliveries even in high winds and bad weather conditions, leaving the order behind while it flies back to charge for its next delivery.
For patients, prescription delivery by Zipline will be optional as the program is designed to make it easy to receive medications and supplies without requiring a trip to a pharmacy or care site.
BayCare marks milestone in hospital’s construction
PALMETTO, Fla. – BayCare marked a major milestone July 10 with a topping out ceremony for BayCare Hospital Manatee, placing the final steel beam for the health system’s first hospital in Manatee County.
The hospital will have more than 436,000 square feet with 154 private patient rooms and with the capacity to expand to 207 beds.
Designed as a full-service acute care facility, BayCare Hospital Manatee will offer emergency care, general and specialty surgery, cardiology, gastroenterology, urology, orthopedics, diagnostic and interventional imaging, obstetrics and neonatology. The hospital also will include a neonatal intensive care unit, nearly doubling access to this level of care in the county. BayCare has NICUs at six hospitals across West Central Florida.
Groups help new moms
LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North offers free in-person support groups and classes in August about breastfeeding and newborn care.
The events are open to all, no matter which hospital you delivered or plan to deliver your baby. Events are held in St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road.
• Breastfeeding Support Group – For breastfeeding mothers, their babies and a support person (grandmother, aunt, etc.) The group provides a place where breastfeeding mothers receive support from other breastfeeding mothers and certified breastfeeding consultants. Offered Thursdays, Aug. 6 and 20, 10 to 11 a.m.
• Understanding Breastfeeding – Provides information to the expectant mother and a support person about breastfeeding basics, skin-to-skin contact, tips for returning to work and when to call a health care provider or lactation consultant. Offered Thursday, Aug. 6, 1 to 5 p.m.
• Understanding Your Newborn – Provides information to the expectant mother and a support person about many aspects of safe infant care, including feeding, diapering, bathing, signs of illness and cues and communication. Offered Thursday, Aug. 20, 6 to 9 p.m.
Register at BayCareEvents.org or calling 855-314-8352 and pressing “2” at the prompt.
AdventHealth encourages blood donations
TAMPA – With local blood supplies remaining critically low, AdventHealth Tampa is encouraging the community to donate blood to help meet an urgent need for patients across the region.
All blood types are needed, especially O Negative and O Positive, which are essential for treating trauma patients, supporting surgeries, providing cancer care and responding to medical emergencies.
