Environmental Benefits of Reducing Patient Mobility and Hospitalization

Vanesa Jiménez-Lacarra, Eduardo Martínez-Cámara (), Juan Carlos Sáenz-Diez Muro, Emilio Jiménez-Macías and Julio Blanco-Fernández
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Vanesa Jiménez-Lacarra: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of La Rioja, 26004 Logroño, Spain
Eduardo Martínez-Cámara: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of La Rioja, 26004 Logroño, Spain
Juan Carlos Sáenz-Diez Muro: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of La Rioja, 26004 Logroño, Spain
Emilio Jiménez-Macías: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of La Rioja, 26004 Logroño, Spain
Julio Blanco-Fernández: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of La Rioja, 26004 Logroño, Spain

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-15

Abstract: New healthcare management strategies aim to reduce in-person visits and patient hospitalization while ensuring patient safety. These strategies optimize resources, alleviate pressure on healthcare services, and decrease travel and mobility within healthcare environments. This research analyzes the environmental impact and sustainability associated with transportation and mobility in traditional hospital-based healthcare services, which have been relocated to bring healthcare closer to patients. This retrospective study utilizes data from two hospital centers spanning the years 2021 to 2023. The objective is to highlight the environmental benefits and sustainability of providing healthcare in the patient’s environment. The methodology employs life cycle analysis to compare three scenarios: traditional healthcare in hospitals, healthcare provided at the patient’s location through home hospitalization and medical consultations at nearby health centers, and healthcare professionals’ travel using electric vehicles. The results demonstrate that healthcare professionals traveling to the patient’s home or nearby health centers reduce environmental impact across all analyzed impact categories. Promoting home hospitalization, specialized consultations at local health centers, and primary care can effectively reduce unnecessary patient travel and minimize environmental impact, enhancing sustainability. Health policies should prioritize actions to reduce hospital visits, emphasizing prevention over disease treatment. Such practices would not only benefit patients but further promote sustainability and environmental protection.

Keywords: mobility; healthcare; sustainability; environmental impact; LCA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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