Does telemedicine reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare? A systematic review

Abstract

In the rapidly progressing field of telemedicine, there is a multitude of evidence assessing the effectiveness and financial costs of telemedicine projects; however, there is very little assessing the environmental impact despite the increasing threat of the climate emergency. This report provides a systematic review of the evidence on the carbon footprint of telemedicine. The identified papers unanimously report that telemedicine does reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare, primarily by reduction in transport-associated emissions. The carbon footprint savings range between 0.70-372 kg CO 2 e per consultation. However, these values are highly context specific. The carbon emissions produced from the use of the telemedicine systems themselves were found to be very low in comparison to emissions saved from travel reductions. This could have wide implications in reducing the carbon footprint of healthcare services globally. In order for telemedicine services to be successfully implemented, further research is necessary to determine context-specific considerations and potential rebound effects.

Carbon emission savings and short‐term health care impacts from telemedicine: An evaluation in epilepsy

“…23 Such assessments are used to quantify emissions associated at each stage of the life cycles of different products used, from extraction and processing of raw materials, through manufacturing, distribution, and use, through to recycling and final disposal. 24 Our findings are also consistent with those in a review by Purohit et al, 25 who found robust evidence that the use of telemedicine services leads to a reduction in the carbon footprint of health care, particularly as a result of reduction in travel. This evidence emerged across different services and regions and led them to conclude that telemedicine could play a valuable role in developing a net 6.12 GB × 0.015 kWh/GB = 0.0918 kWh 0.0918 kWh × 0.23314 = 0.0214 kg CO 2 e zero health care system, but that implementation will depend upon specialty and location.…”

“…Other new technologies on the horizon will offer new opportunities across the sector, for example, by reducing emissions associated with volatile anesthetics 3 . However, among the barriers to action, Tsagkaris et al 37 cite a lack of awareness and of reliable data relating to reducing emissions; for example, Purohit et al 25 call for a greater use of LCAs in quantifying emissions associated with health care. There is therefore a need for clinicians to be educated on the environmental benefits that telemedicine can bring, and how to implement the new technologies that might facilitate these 37 …”

Impact of Implementing Teleophthalmology Referral Guidelines Using the eyeSmart EMR App in 63,703 Patients from India

“…Telemedicine has the potential to build a carbon-free health system by reducing carbon emissions associated with travel. In a systematic survey by Purohit et al, carbon footprint savings ranged from 0.70 to 372 kg of CO 2 per consultation [ 18 ].…”

Ophthalmology Going Greener: A Narrative Review

“…By supporting optometric practices to utilise smartphones attached to slit lamps, enabling ocular biomicroscopic videography, ophthalmologists are able to view a patient’s examination features in real time without the patient attending, thereby streamlining the ophthalmic triaging system [ 53 ]. Purohit and colleagues published a systematic review targeting transport-associated emissions and found that the carbon footprint saved using telemedicine ranges between 0.7 and 372 kg CO 2 eq per consultation [ 54 ]. Sharafeldin and colleagues undertook a review on economic evaluation that supports evidence of cost-effectiveness of teleophthalmology on chronic conditions like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma [ 55 ].…”