Telemedicine is here to stay. Especially after the outbreak of the current coronavirus pandemic in which we are still immersed, already in April of last year the importance of public health betting on the development of remote medical services, and not only now as a way to reduce healthcare overload as a consequence of COVID-19.
For example, during home confinement, the pandemic forced medical specialists to monitor mild coronavirus patients by telephone, and hundreds of thousands of patients were encouraged to use telemedicine for consultations for other mild pathologies, thereby avoiding going in person at medical centers.
Now, experts wonder if telemedicine could be equally useful in fighting climate change , considered one of the greatest threats that humanity has not yet been able to stop.
According to specialists, the potential of telemedicine is really significant, since it offers the possibility for doctors to treat patients at home without having to travel to the medical center. In addition, it also allows doctors and nurses to work from home, which means additional savings .
A short time ago, after the publication of an investigation in Health Affairs, we learned that the health industry is considered one of the main sectors that emits more carbon in the world , being responsible for the emission of 4.5 percent of greenhouse gases around the world.
According to this report, the US healthcare system tends to generate the most emissions, and about a quarter of global healthcare-related greenhouse gas emissions come from this country.
Also, to make matters worse, the researchers found that, in the United States, health care system emissions increased 6 percent over the past decade, accounting for about 8.5 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. greenhouse effect of the country.
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The same solution that offered patients and physicians to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during home confinement, is also emerging among specialists today as a way to lower the healthcare-related carbon footprint.
For example, especially among healthcare workers commuting to work, and transporting both medical supplies and patients, traditional in-person care plays a significant role in the carbon footprint of this sector.
Hence, modifying some aspects associated with medical care, to remote schemes with telemedicine, could be a solution that helps pave the way towards ecological medical care and, at the same time, much friendlier for the patient.
