How an innovative new tool can empower the health sector to transition to low-carbon options
In the world of digital health, we often talk about transformation – revolutionising care, empowering patients and streamlining systems. The Australian government, in its recent National Climate Risk Assessment, has now called for a similar kind of change, warning that without a “transformational adaptation”, the health and social support system will be unable to cope with the escalating impacts of climate change. The report predicts that climate change will have “cascading, compounding and concurrent” impacts on Australia’s economy and communities.
The health sector, already struggling with workforce shortages, increasing pressures and burnout, is set to be profoundly affected.
This is the moment our two worlds collide, because I believe the kind of transformational change demanded by the climate crisis is an opportunity for digital health to demonstrate its benefits not only to economic and social metrics, but environmental ones, too. However, we must ensure we take an open honest and transparent look at both the benefits and costs when evaluating the opportunity.
A clear mandate
As digital health professionals, we have a clear mandate here. We have long positioned ourselves as a key part of the solution to the health sector’s biggest challenges—from workforce shortages and ballooning demand to inefficient data management. Climate change is the next, and arguably most significant, challenge. Our mission is to provide low-carbon care alternatives that are also resilient to the increasing unpredictability of our environment.
As Director of Sustainability Measurement at Healthdirect Australia, I’m lucky to have a front-row seat to the transformative power of digital and virtual health and be part of the data and insights team developing data-driven evidence and tools to demonstrate this.
Healthdirect Australia provides digital health services and information. Supported by government funding, its purpose is to offer accessible, free health advice to Australians 24 hours 7 days a week. Whether it’s guiding people to the right service via our helpline or providing virtual care when in-person options are out of reach, we’re committed to empowering individuals and families to manage their health with confidence and ease. In doing so, we help bridge gaps in our health system, making quality care more accessible, resilient, and sustainable for everyone across the country.
I went to my first Health Informatics Society of Australia (Australian Institute of Digital Health) meeting over 15 years ago, and while things have changed considerably in that time, I believe the opportunity for transformative change is still to be fully realised, particularly in driving a shift to preventative care or, as I call it, shifting from “find and fix” to “predict and prevent”.
Environmental benefits of digital
The social and economic benefits of digital and virtual health services are well understood and we are beginning to see increasing evidence as to how they contribute to environmental benefits. For example, AI usage in radiology can minimise the number of images per scans required, reducing both energy loads and associated emissions and, for the fellow claustrophobics out there, reduce the time the time a patient has to spend inside an anxiety inducing coffin-shaped tube… but, I digress.
However, we can’t afford to be so focused on the benefits that we overlook the potential downsides. There is a risk that as digital tools become more efficient, we simply use them more frequently, leading to an increase in overall demand. In our radiology example, greater efficiency might not lead to a reduction in emissions if we end up performing more scans and if the marginal cost in time and effort becomes so small.
Healthcare’s transition to a data-driven model means our operational backbone is now entirely digital, spanning clinical workflow, administration, and accounting. Supporting this virtual infrastructure, however, carries a significant and often hidden material burden from energy consumption to raw material extraction for ICT components through to the environmental impacts of e-waste.
The rapid growth of data-intensive technologies like AI will only compound this. If we’re not careful, the very tools we champion to improve efficiency could become a new source of environmental harm, simply shifting the environmental burden from one part of the health system to another.
This is the central issue we must openly confront: digital health can be a powerful force for good in the climate fight, but it must do so being cognisant of its own environmental risk of harm.
Measurement framework
So, how do we begin? It starts with measurement and transparency. You cannot manage what you do not measure. This is why Healthdirect has developed the Virtual Health Emissions Measurement Framework. This isn’t just an academic exercise; it’s a practical, accessible tool designed to empower health organisations to understand and report on their climate impact.
The framework provides a methodology and a simple calculator with pre-loaded emissions factors. It allows organisations to quantify the emissions they save by transitioning clinically appropriate in-person care to virtual pathways. While it’s clear that environmentally intensive decisions around anaesthetics, renewable energy, greywater systems, food and supplies will lead to larger impacts. Transitioning clinically appropriate care to virtual pathways can and should be part of organisations climate transition plans and support the increasing climate-related reporting obligations for businesses and public entities.
This brings me to my core belief: a truly sustainable health system must balance its social, economic, and environmental impacts to deliver true efficiency. And a more efficient health system is what digital health has always been about. Our ultimate goal—making health better and more accessible for all Australians—is a shared purpose that bridges the gap between the digital health and climate health communities. The two are not separate; they are inextricably linked.
We must be transparent about the opportunities and the limitations. Our framework demonstrates how virtual health services can be part of the climate solution—but only if we make the effort to measure, understand and communicate their impact.
It can be a lonely place being one of the few sustainability and climate advocates in digital health. I’ve found that the sustainable health community doesn’t fully appreciate the potential of digital and virtual, and the digital health community has yet to fully grasp the scale and action required to address the climate challenge.
The time has come for these two worlds to come together.
The climate reports released by the Australian government make it clear that the most vulnerable will bear the heaviest burden, and one thing we all hold dear is the need to deliver an equitable, fair and efficient healthcare system for all. As we navigate these difficult times, it is essential we collaborate to build a digitally enabled health ecosystem that is truly resilient, equitable, and sustainable for all.
The digital health community is fuelled by data; we advocate for evidence-based decision making to deliver measurable benefits for the health system. As the impacts of climate change become more urgent to address, I believe it’s essential we embed environmental metrics into standard analytics and reporting. Understanding how our services can contribute to a more sustainable future by measuring our emissions is a great way to start.
Have your say with our poll question:
How important is climate change in your organisation’s strategy?
A) It’s a key priority for us.
B) We’re starting to think about it, but it’s not a major focus yet.
C) Not a factor in our strategy at this time.
