Virtual doctor’s appointments are helping healthcare companies reduce carbon emissions, though sustainability is mostly seen as a side benefit of telehealth rather than its main driver. At first the practice was seen mostly as a way to improve patient access and convenience while reducing costs, but as the trend stabilized, healthcare companies started viewing virtual consultations as an opportunity to improve their carbon footprint. The healthcare industry is responsible for about 5% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, of which the U.S. healthcare system alone accounts for a quarter. The urgent round-the-clock nature of medical care means that there is a limit to how much emissions can be reduced. Companies have been trying to cut emissions by purchasing utility-scale electricity from renewable sources, installing solar arrays, improving building efficiency and buying carbon offsets.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/virtual-healthcare-has-green-benefits-3d9981d2