With a global pandemic and environmental challenges, the healthcare industry has embraced a unique opportunity to adopt sustainable practices. Telehealth savings are visible in carbon footprint, financial costs, and time expenditure. As a result, telehealth is now considered a pivotal eco-friendly and patient-centric healthcare solution.
This article explores how telehealth has an eco-friendly and patient-centric effect.
Telehealth Savings: Costs, Time, and Carbon Footprint
The study, conducted by UC Davis Health researchers, focused on assessing the carbon footprint of telehealth visits. The researchers discuss potential telehealth savings in terms of lives, costs, and time compared to in-person visits. Researchers analyzed data from five University of California healthcare systems during the first two years of the pandemic.
The results revealed substantial benefits for patients and the environment. One of the most important findings was eliminating the need to commute a staggering 53,664,391 miles by choosing telehealth visits vs. in-person appointments. The researchers noted this is equivalent to 113 round trips from Earth to the moon. By embracing telehealth, patients saved an estimated 204 years of travel time and $33,540,244 in travel-related costs.
Beyond the telehealth savings in terms of cost, the technology also prevented injuries and fatalities that could have occurred during travel for in-person visits. The study estimated that telehealth adoption avoided 42.4 injuries and 0.7 deaths. This underscores the safety benefits of telehealth, particularly for patients in rural communities who face challenges in commuting to appointments.
Telehealth: An Eco-Friendly Solution
Various industries seek ways to reduce their carbon footprint, and healthcare is no exception. The UC Davis Health study shows how telehealth savings also benefit the environment and contribute to a global effort. The healthcare sector is a significant emitter of greenhouse gases. As a result, it has the potential to positively impact the environment by embracing telehealth as a sustainable practice.
For example, reducing the need for patients to drive to medical appointments directly correlates with telehealth savings in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers estimate that telehealth adoption can decrease CO2 emissions by 21,466 metric tons over the two years. This is equivalent to the yearly CO2 emissions from 4,177 U.S. homes. Telehealth significantly contributes to cleaner air and a healthier environment by reducing vehicle trips.
Now is the time to harness telehealth savings and benefits for a greener, patient-friendly future. As the study suggests, telehealth can be a safe, efficient, and cost-effective mode of care, even beyond the pandemic’s end. Healthcare organizations can build on the momentum created during the pandemic and fully integrate telehealth into their operations. By doing so, they can see telehealth savings in costs and time and reduce their carbon footprint, making a tangible contribution to combating climate change.
Understanding Telehealth Savings
The rise of telehealth during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) changed patient care and presented a valuable opportunity for the healthcare industry to become more environmentally conscious. The UC Davis Health study confirms that telehealth can significantly reduce the healthcare sector’s carbon footprint while saving patients time and money and reducing potential risks associated with commuting.
As the world grapples with the challenges posed by climate change, healthcare organizations can adopt sustainable practices. Embracing telehealth as a long-term solution will benefit patients and contribute to a healthier planet. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting patient-centric care, telehealth savings create a greener, more sustainable healthcare industry for future generations.
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