In a groundbreaking study led by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), emerging evidence highlights the significant environmental benefits of telemedicine use in the United States during 2023. By analyzing a vast dataset encompassing nearly 1.5 million telemedicine consultations, the study quantifies a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions attributable to replacing traditional in-person medical visits with virtual care. This reduction equates to eliminating the monthly greenhouse gas output of up to 130,000 gasoline-powered vehicles, signaling a promising avenue for healthcare’s role in mitigating climate change.
The peer-reviewed findings, published in The American Journal of Managed Care, stem from a detailed statistical exploration that leverages de-identified medical claims data obtained from the Milliman MedInsight Emerging Experience database. The dataset spans the second quarter of 2023 and includes approximately 66,000 patients from rural regions, a demographic often underserved by healthcare systems and more reliant on long-distance travel for medical appointments. The scope and granularity of this data allowed the researchers to discern patterns in telemedicine adoption and its environmental repercussions with unprecedented precision.
One of the seminal conclusions from this inquiry is that telemedicine visits can be classified largely as substitutions for in-person encounters, not merely additional consultations. Consequently, the authors estimate that between 741,000 and 1.35 million telemedicine visits replaced traditional face-to-face care during the study period. This substitution effect is critical as it directly translates medical encounters into avoided travel miles, thereby significantly lowering transportation-related carbon emissions—a major contributor to the healthcare sector’s environmental footprint.
The United States healthcare system is responsible for approximately 9% of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions, a notable fraction considering its role in national emissions. Of this, transportation accounts for roughly 29%, underscoring the relevance of reducing vehicular travel associated with healthcare delivery. Each in-person medical appointment typically entails patient travel, often via personal vehicles, contributing substantially to carbon dioxide release. By circumventing these trips through virtual appointments, telemedicine emerges not only as a means for improved access and convenience but also as a tool for environmental stewardship.
Quantitative analysis reveals that telemedicine reduced monthly CO2 emissions by an estimated 21.4 million to 47.6 million kilograms in 2023. To contextualize, these figures correspond to emissions otherwise generated by 61,000 to 130,000 gasoline-powered cars on the road or equivalent to recycling between 1.8 million and 4 million large trash bags each month. Such comparisons help visualize the tangible impact of telehealth beyond healthcare, extending into broader ecological benefits and climate change mitigation.
Dr. John N. Mafi, co-senior author of the study and associate professor-in-residence of medicine at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, emphasizes the timely relevance of these findings. As legislative bodies debate the future of telehealth policies that were relaxed during the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence indicating significant environmental co-benefits strengthens the rationale for sustaining or expanding telemedicine flexibilities. These results provide policymakers with a robust argument that health system transformation can proceed hand-in-hand with environmentally conscious strategies.
Moreover, Dr. A. Mark Fendrick, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Value-Based Insurance Design at the University of Michigan and co-senior author on the paper, highlights the importance of reimagining healthcare delivery pathways to curb its carbon footprint. The researchers posit that substituting traditional high-emission services with lower-carbon alternatives—like telemedicine—contributes to global efforts in reducing the health sector’s climate impact, which is an increasingly scrutinized component of international climate change agendas.
The methodology employed in this research integrates various data sources, including pre-2023 transportation patterns and vehicle market share, to estimate avoided emissions accurately. Although some limitations exist—such as the non-random nature of the sampled data and potential variations in driving distances or vehicle efficiency over time—the authors contend that these factors likely cause minimal deviation from their overall estimates. However, they acknowledge that the steady decline in telemedicine usage post-pandemic peaks could mean the study may overestimate long-term emission reductions associated with virtual care.
This comprehensive environmental analysis underscores the multifaceted value of telemedicine beyond improved healthcare access and patient satisfaction. It positions telehealth as a viable lever in the nationwide strategy to decarbonize health services, aligning clinical innovation with environmental imperatives. As remote and hybrid healthcare models evolve, this research serves as a critical reference point informing sustainable practices in modern medical delivery.
The study further contributes to a growing body of literature that emphasizes the healthcare sector’s responsibility and potential in addressing climate change. By quantifying the environmental dividends of telemedicine at a national scale, this work challenges providers, insurers, and regulators to incorporate sustainability metrics within healthcare quality and value frameworks. Such integration could accelerate adoption of green health technologies and processes, reinforcing a culture of ecological accountability.
Importantly, the research team also brings attention to disparities in telemedicine utilization, particularly in rural areas where in-person travel is typically more burdensome and emissions associated with healthcare visits are presumably higher. Expanding telehealth access in these regions could amplify environmental gains while simultaneously addressing longstanding healthcare inequities.
Funding for this pivotal study was provided by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging, reflecting significant public investment in research at the intersection of healthcare innovation and environmental impact. The collaborative effort—which includes contributions from UCLA faculty and external experts affiliated with Milliman MedInsight and RAND Corporation—demonstrates a multidisciplinary approach essential for tackling complex issues such as climate change and health system sustainability.
In conclusion, as the healthcare industry grapples with its environmental footprint, this study elucidates a clear and actionable pathway toward emission reduction through telemedicine. By melding technology with environmental science, the research offers a hopeful narrative: that medical care, reimagined through virtual platforms, can play a consequential role in slowing climate change while preserving the quality and reach of health services nationwide.
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Impact of Telemedicine Use on Outpatient-Related CO2 Emissions: Estimate From a National Cohort
News Publication Date: 22-Apr-2025
Keywords: Carbon emissions, Health care delivery, Environmental management, Environmental health, Automobiles, Climate change effects, Internal medicine
