Sustainability in Healthcare: Methods and Tools for the Assessment

Abstract

Background: Healthcare sector has a significant impact on the environment and people well-being. Therefore, it is interesting to understand how healthcare contributes to sustainable development. Objective: The study aims to perform a literature review on the methodologies applied to quantify environmental impact in healthcare with an attention to telemedicine activities. Methods: Scopus and PubMed databases were investigated between 2018 and 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) frameworks was followed for article selection. Results: From initial 183 articles, 50 full-studies were included. Life-cycle assessment method proved to be a standard for assessing the impact of devices used in clinical practice. Indeed, for the investigation of care activities a unique methodology was not defined. The assessment of telemedicine is mainly based on avoided travels, and a standard methodology is still missing. Conclusions: To move toward a sustainable development other aspects of sustainability should be investigated.

Exploring Quantitative Methodologies for Assessing the Environmental, Social, and Economic Impacts of Telemedicine: A Literature Review

“…To ensure better management, it is essential to measure the pressures of healthcare activities on the environment [14], with a primary focus on reducing carbon emissions, minimizing waste, and optimizing energy consumption, preferably from renewable sources [1,17]. A previous study conducted a literature review to identify the methodologies applied for the quantification of environmental impact in the healthcare field [18]. As included in the review, a significant portion of studies has centered on the analysis of devices and instruments used in clinical practice.…”

“…Moreover, terms indicating specific telemedicine activities were used, such as "teleconsultation," "telemonitoring," and "televisit". The terms related to the environmental pillar have been extrapolated from published literature reviews related to the sustainability of the healthcare field [18,23,28]. To improve the research, the terms "energy efficiency" and "energy measurement" have been added to the queries.…”

“…As highlighted in the literature, telemedicine is perceived as an opportunity to transition towards environmental sustainability and beyond, mitigating the significant impacts generated by healthcare systems. However, while the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a qualitative framework for impact assessment, it is crucial to understand how to operationalize and develop quantitative analyses for concrete evaluations [18]. For this reason, a clear overview of the state of this field will play a crucial role in addressing the heterogeneity of studies that have applied methodologies for a quantitative assessment of the sustainability of telemedicine solutions.…”