Telehealth reduces travel-related emissions by decreasing the need for patients and providers to commute to clinics or hospitals. It also lowers the demand on physical infrastructure, such as waiting rooms and office energy use. Beyond environmental benefits, telemedicine improves patient convenience and access, especially for those in rural or underserved areas. Telemedicine at a cancer center saved the emissions of 91.5 cars for nearby patients and 591 cars for those farther away by avoiding travel. You can read more in here.

Outpatient clinics generate significant single-use plastic waste, from exam gloves to medication packaging. Strategies include prescribing more thoughtfully, reducing unnecessary disposable supplies, and incorporating sustainability goals into quality improvement projects. Small changes at the clinic level can translate into large system-wide benefits. You can read more in this article here.