Carbon savings potential of virtual care in obstructive sleep apnea and otitis media with effusion

• Published in: Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. e1221 - n/a
• Main Authors: Heffernan, Austin, Lalande, Annie, Chadha, Rashmi, MacNeill, Andrea, Chadha, Neil K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2024; Wiley
• Subjects: carbon footprint; climate change; Original Research; otolaryngology; telemedicine; virtual health; telemedicine; carbon footprint; otolaryngology; virtual health; climate change
• ISSN: 2378-8038; 2378-8038
• DOI: 10.1002/lio2.1221

Objective To determine the carbon savings potential of incorporating virtual care into surgical care pathways for pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea or otitis media with effusion. Methods Pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea or otitis media with effusion were not enrolled, instead, a modeling cohort study design was used. This study utilized the British Columbia healthcare system and geography to model emissions. Care pathways were developed for pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea or otitis media with effusion requiring care at a tertiary pediatric center. Home addresses were located at the geographical center of the two most populated municipalities within each of the 10 most populated regional districts in 2020. Virtual visits replaced up to three clinically equivalent in‐person visits. Emissions (kgCO2e) for transport and virtual visits were estimated. Population‐weighted means and descriptive statistics were calculated. Results Utilizing 1, 2, or 3 virtual visits in the obstructive sleep apnea care pathway yielded potential emissions savings of 19.9%, 39.9%, and 59.8% respectively. Integrating 1, 2, or 3 virtual visits into the otitis media with effusion care pathway produced potential emissions savings of 16.6%, 33.2%, and 49.7%, respectively. Integrating 3 virtual visits can save up to 2156.8 kgCO2e per patient. Conclusions Appropriately conducting up to 50% of clinical encounters virtually for children with obstructive sleep apnea or otitis media with effusion reduced theoretical carbon emissions. For a single child, emission savings could reach over 2150 kgCO2e. Level of Evidence Level 5. Appropriately conducting up to 50% of clinical encounters virtually for children with obstructive sleep apnea or otitis media with effusion substantially reduced theoretical carbon emissions. Virtual health can offer many benefits to patients, the healthcare system, and the environment, and should be encouraged in situations where in‐person and virtual visits are clinically equivalent whilst taking patient experience and health equity into consideration.