Sustainability in Healthcare: Methods and Tools for the Assessment

Abstract

Background: Healthcare sector has a significant impact on the environment and people well-being. Therefore, it is interesting to understand how healthcare contributes to sustainable development. Objective: The study aims to perform a literature review on the methodologies applied to quantify environmental impact in healthcare with an attention to telemedicine activities. Methods: Scopus and PubMed databases were investigated between 2018 and 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) frameworks was followed for article selection. Results: From initial 183 articles, 50 full-studies were included. Life-cycle assessment method proved to be a standard for assessing the impact of devices used in clinical practice. Indeed, for the investigation of care activities a unique methodology was not defined. The assessment of telemedicine is mainly based on avoided travels, and a standard methodology is still missing. Conclusions: To move toward a sustainable development other aspects of sustainability should be investigated.