Electronic Health Records as a Catalyst for Eco-Conscious Healthcare

Over the past decade, the Earth has been experiencing exacerbated climatic conditions that can traced back to the relentless increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The consequences of this collective environmental disregard are becoming increasingly evident, with rising global temperatures, melting ice caps, extreme weather events, and shifts in ecosystems. According to WHO, the climate crisis, if unabated, will cause upwards of 250,000 annual deaths between 2030 and 2050.

The medical industry, while dedicated to preserving and improving human health, paradoxically stands as one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. A report published by Arup in 2019, shows that the healthcare industry’s emissions make up 4% of global CO2 emissions, and up to 10% of national emissions from developed countries. That’s why, in the face of this escalating planetary crisis, it is crucial for healthcare practices to embrace sustainability and actively work towards achieving carbon net zero. 

By implementing sustainable practices and embracing innovative solutions, healthcare organisations can make significant strides towards mitigating their environmental impact. The NHS, for instance, has made a commitment to reduce emissions by 80% in 2032 and to achieve net zero by 2040.

Although there are many ways your practice can meet your sustainability goals, like reducing direct energy consumption (hospitals have the highest energy intensity of all publicly funded buildings), using ethically sourced, sustainable materials, offsetting carbon emissions and adopting circular practices, one of the most significant adjustments that you can make is adopting the use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs).

What Impact Does The Adoption of EHRs Have on the Environment?

The most documented research on the impact of EHRs on carbon emission showed that for 8.7 million patients, the utilisation of electronic records resulted in the saving of 1,044 tons of paper medical records, avoided 92,000 tons of CO2 emissions by substituting face-to-face patient visits with virtual consultations and curbed 7,000 tons of greenhouse gases by embracing online prescription filling. It also reduced the use of toxic chemicals like silver nitrate by 33.3 tons through the digitization and archiving of X-ray images and other scans. 

Although the study also found that there was increased energy consumption by personal computers from the adoption of EHR, the researchers concluded that it has a net environmental impact, akin to removing 300,000 cars off American roads annually.

How Embracing EHRs Enhances Your Commitment to Sustainability

Practices that genuinely embrace environmental stewardship and commit to sustainability can reap numerous benefits from adopting Electronic Health Records (EHRs), that extend beyond the environmental impacts, such as:

• Benefit from “Green” Initiatives. In a bid to encourage private and public entities to minimise emissions, governments have been offering incentives to support those that are making an effort to go green. In the UK, the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme will provide over £1 billion in grants up to 2025 to aid in heat decarbonisation and the adoption of energy efficiency measures. You may also be exempt from some taxes if you adopt energy-efficient technology in your business and are producing less waste.
• Enjoy Interoperability of Medical Records. One of the major benefits of EHRs is increased mobility of medical records across practices. So if you receive a new patient, you will not be bogged down with paperwork as their electronic record can be easily uploaded into your system.

• Reduce Spending on Energy. EHR systems are much more energy efficient than physical records. Not only do they require less physical space, but they also don’t use energy-intensive storage components such as cooling fans to protect stored paper records. In addition, EHRs can be accessed from anywhere, so there is no need to install additional lighting or heating in the areas where paper records are kept.

• Unlock Efficient Billing and Revenue Cycle Management. An EHR system allows you to track and analyse how your organisation is performing, so you know where improvements can be made in terms of efficiency and sustainability. With the detailed reports generated by an EHR system, you can identify areas where processes may be lagging and make changes accordingly. By consolidating data into a digital format, EHRs also ensure that when records become obsolete, there are fewer papers that need to be recycled or thrown away.

• Secured Data. With the data security an EHR system provides (passwords, biometrics logins, 2-step authentication factors), you can trust that all of your files will remain safe from potential external threats while also reducing the overhead costs associated with paper storage.
• Reduced Transportation Costs. With electronic health records you will no longer require patients to come into the office for every appointment. Instead, they can leverage telemedicine to communicate with their doctors wherever they may be. This not only reduces emissions from transportation but also ensures that your patients can access medical attention wherever they may be, especially if they have issues with mobility or live in remote areas.

As your trusted sustainability partner, Meddbase offers you an effective EHR solution that will empower you to embrace environmentally conscious practices. With us, you will enhance your operational efficiency, improve patient care, and contribute to a greener future, with the confidence that we are with you, no matter the climate.