Why Telehealth May Be the Future of Medicine

Visiting healthcare professionals via video or phone—a practice commonly known as telehealth—spiked during the pandemic, but it is clearly here to stay. In fact, a recent report found that telehealth can save people money and time and benefit the Earth. 

Telehealth Study

• The study, by UC Davis Health researchers, included data from California health systems over two years. The team included data from:

Telehealth Considerations. The collective teams considered the following:

• Round-trip distances
• Emissions
• Travel time
• Travel costs
• Avoidable injuries and fatalities

Telehealth Saves Time and Money

The team found that, in total, telehealth saved patients:

• 204 years of travel time
• $33,540,244 travel-related expenses

Not only that, but telehealth prevented 42 injuries and 0.7 fatalities. On a more granular level, telehealth appointments saved the average person from having to travel 17 miles, as well as spend 35 minutes getting back and forth, and saved them about $11 per visit. 

Telehealth Helps the Environment

The team at UC Davis found that telehealth was also good for the environment. With fewer cars on the road going to doctor visits, emissions were reduced by 21,466 metric tons. That’s equivalent to a year’s electricity emissions from 4,000 homes. 

Do One Thing: Consider a telehealth appointment when an in-person visit isn’t necessary. It can be beneficial to you and the environment.