How Virtual Doctor Visits Are Saving the Planet

[rangerrebew]

How Virtual Doctor Visits Are Saving the Planet

By StudyFinds Staff
 
Reviewed by Sophia Naughton

Research led by Benjo Delarmente and John N. Mafi, University of California Los Angeles

Apr 22, 2025

 
Doctor talking to patient virtually
Virtual doctor visits may be beneficial for fighting climate change. (Ground Picture/Shutterstock)

Carbon Emissions Saved Akin to Output of 130,000 Cars Every Month
In a nutshell

Telemedicine saved millions of pounds of CO₂ each month in 2023—enough to match the emissions of up to 130,000 gas-powered cars, according to a UCLA-led study.

The biggest environmental impact came from avoided travel, especially for rural patients who typically drive farther for care.

While modest on a national scale, these emissions savings offer a new reason for policymakers to support expanded access to virtual healthcare.

https://studyfinds.org/virtual-doctor-visits-cut-carbon-emissions/

[rangerrebew]

 

[Polly Ticks]

Yeah, this 'saving the planet' narrative is idiotic.  Having said that, there is definitely a benefit to virtual doctor benefits in certain circumstances.  As a mother of 5 kids, I knew what pink-eye looked like and didn't need a doctor to diagnose it when one of my kids came down with it, but I still had to go in for an appointment in order to get a prescription for antibiotic eye drops. Stupid, and expensive in both time and money. A virtual doctor visit would be a good compromise in that kind of case.

[rustynail]

Carbon dioxide is not a pollutant.