How Virtual Care Supports Your Health and the Planet

Written by: Sarah Glinski, RD

Updated: July 10th, 2025

Healthcare is constantly evolving, and not just in the types of treatments being offered to patients. How, when, and where care is delivered have seen major shifts in recent years, with an increase in virtual healthcare visits and more streamlined scheduling practices. As discussed in this article on climate change and digestive health, the healthcare sector itself plays a role in environmental change, which in turn can negatively affect digestive health.

Increasing the availability of virtual visits and scheduling multiple procedures on the same day is better for both patients and the environment. Healthcare utilization contributes to environmental change through the generation of greenhouse gases, waste products, and pollution. This, in turn, adversely impacts digestive health, with newer research pointing to a link between environmental change and the incidence of cancer and inflammatory diseases.

This article will examine the benefits of practices such as virtual visits and smarter scheduling on both patient outcomes and the environment. Making care more convenient isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s an essential part of a modern, patient-centered, and environmentally conscious healthcare system.

The Rise of Virtual Care

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped many parts of our lives, but perhaps one of the most impactful was the shift in how we access healthcare. Virtual health care has evolved from a niche offering to a standard option at many healthcare facilities worldwide.

For many patients, this has been a welcome change from having to attend appointments in person. It’s convenient, just as effective as in-person care, and often a more comfortable way to connect with your care team.

Why Virtual Visits Work

The shift to virtual care has shown that phone and video appointments can be a viable option for a range of appointment types, including follow-up visits, prescription refills, and reviewing test results. They save time, eliminate transportation hassles, and make it easier to fit healthcare into busy schedules, especially for individuals juggling work or caregiving responsibilities.

Research has shown that telemedicine improves patient outcomes by helping overcome geographical barriers and improving patient engagement and satisfaction with care. For people living with gastrointestinal conditions like IBS or IBD, where symptoms can be unpredictable, being able to talk with their doctor from the comfort of home can ease the anxiety of needing to find a washroom while out and about or sitting through a long commute.

Virtual Care and the Environment

Virtual care doesn’t just benefit patients; it’s also better for the planet. If every patient skipped just one unnecessary in-person appointment each year, imagine the cumulative impact it could have: less driving, fewer emissions, and a greener healthcare system. In fact, a 2025 study at a single urology clinic found that switching to telehealth for just six months resulted in the elimination of over 150 metric tons of CO₂.

While virtual care isn’t a substitute for every type of visit, like physical exams or procedures, it can be a smart choice in many situations. If you’re wondering whether a phone or video visit could be an option for you, don’t hesitate to ask your healthcare team! Many health facilities are now well-equipped to help patients navigate virtual care options.

Overall, virtual care offers a flexible, patient-centered approach to healthcare, especially for those managing chronic conditions. When appropriate, choosing a virtual visit can save you time, reduce stress, and help protect the environment.

Smarter Scheduling for In-Person Care

When in-person care is necessary, adopting smarter scheduling practices can make a significant difference for both your health and the environment. Coordinating multiple appointments or procedures into a single visit helps reduce the overall burden on patients and minimizes unnecessary travel.

One practical example is combining procedures like colonoscopies and upper endoscopies on the same day, when medically appropriate. This approach not only reduces the time and energy spent preparing for two separate procedures, but also minimizes exposure to anesthesia.

Fewer trips to the clinic or hospital also mean less time spent commuting, less time off work, and fewer child-care or caregiving arrangements to organize. And from an environmental standpoint, consolidating appointments results in fewer car trips, which can help lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce traffic congestion.

If you have multiple upcoming visits, tests, or other procedures, ask your healthcare team whether it’s possible to schedule them on the same day. A little planning can go a long way in making care more efficient and sustainable.

accessing virtual care at home for convenience while also reducing unnecessary travel

Convenience Is a Form of Care

When healthcare is more accessible, outcomes for both patients and healthcare providers improve. Patient-centered scheduling, whether it’s flexible appointment times, virtual visits, or same-day procedures, can help reduce missed appointments, improve patient engagement and satisfaction, and minimize the stress associated with managing complex health needs.

This is particularly important for people with chronic conditions like IBS and IBD. Frequent follow-ups are often necessary in gastroenterology, and offering patients efficient, flexible options enables them to stay on top of their care. Convenient care empowers patients by supporting autonomy, reducing geographical barriers, and encouraging a proactive approach to health, all without compromising the quality of care.

There’s also a bigger picture to consider. As highlighted in this article, climate change isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s a health issue. Reducing unnecessary travel and healthcare-related emissions supports cleaner air, reduces stress on healthcare systems, and contributes to long-term public and planetary health.

Final Thoughts

When we think about healthcare, our minds often go straight to medications or procedures. However, the way we access care, how it’s scheduled, delivered, and coordinated – plays a significant role in our overall health and patient experience. Embracing virtual visits, flexible scheduling, and smarter coordination of in-person care can help reduce stress, save time, and make it easier for people to stay engaged with their health.

These innovations aren’t just beneficial to individuals; they also benefit the broader community and the planet. At the end of the day, thoughtful, patient-centred systems are a smarter, greener way to care for people and the world we live in.

References

Lenzen,M., Malik, A., Li, M., Fry, J., Weisz, H., Pichler, P.P., et al. (2020). The environmental footprint of health care: a global assessment. Lancet Planet Health. 4(7):e271-e9.
Leddin, D. (2024). The Impact of Climate Change, Pollution, and Biodiversity Loss on Digestive Health and Disease. Gastro Hep Advances. 3(4):519-34.
Lieneck, C., Weaver, E., & Maryon, T. (2021). Outpatient Telehealth Implementation in the United States during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic: A Systematic Review. Medicina, 57(5), 462. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57050462
Snoswell, C. L., Chelberg, G., De Guzman, K. R., Haydon, H. M., Thomas, E. E., Caffery, L. J., & Smith, A. C. (2023). The clinical effectiveness of telehealth: A systematic review of meta-analyses from 2010 to 2019. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X211022907
Ezeamii, V. C., Okobi, O. E., Wambai-Sani, H., et al. (2024) Revolutionizing Healthcare: How Telemedicine Is Improving Patient Outcomes and
Expanding Access to Care. Cureus 16(7): e63881. DOI 10.7759/cureus.63881
Wong, V., Cohen, J., Ingram, A., Woods, E., Mitchell, B., Bellamy, B., Posid, T., & Crescenze, I. (2025). Patient-Centered Cost Saving and Positive Environmental Impact With the Introduction of Telehealth Services at a Single Center. Urology practice, 12(1), 44–50. https://doi.org/10.1097/UPJ.0000000000000723