Social impacts investigation is a crucial aspect for healthcare sustainability. Current literature offers fragmented approaches for telemedicine assessment. Thus, this study aims to define indicators and propose a methodology to assess its social impact. It integrates social analysis extending a prior environmental evaluation of a televisit process for heart failure patients. Starting from Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) and Product Social Impact Assessment (PSIA) guidelines (UNEP 2020), stakeholder groups were identified: patients, caregivers, healthcare and administrative staff, hospital and provincial municipalities. Indicators were acquired from literature and formalized. Initial evaluation included time and cost savings for patients and caregivers throughout the entire processes (in-person or virtual appointments). The inventory was compiled involving a multidisciplinary team and using national databases. Finally, a 5-point scale (−2 to +2) was introduced to facilitate the results comparison. During traditional visits, patients spent €98.57 and caregivers €78.97 for prescription and visit phases, respectively. In televisit processes, total expenditures were €24.01 for patients and €19.6 for caregivers. The televisit delivery phase had the most significant benefits in both environmental and social impacts. Using the proposed framework allows for a formalized approach to broaden assessments, providing a more comprehensive overview for decision-making.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Integrating Social Impact Indicators into Environmental Analysis: A Proposal for Televisit Assessment

  • Anna Savoldelli,
  • Daniele Landi,
  • Caterina Rizzi

摘要

Social impacts investigation is a crucial aspect for healthcare sustainability. Current literature offers fragmented approaches for telemedicine assessment. Thus, this study aims to define indicators and propose a methodology to assess its social impact. It integrates social analysis extending a prior environmental evaluation of a televisit process for heart failure patients. Starting from Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) and Product Social Impact Assessment (PSIA) guidelines (UNEP 2020), stakeholder groups were identified: patients, caregivers, healthcare and administrative staff, hospital and provincial municipalities. Indicators were acquired from literature and formalized. Initial evaluation included time and cost savings for patients and caregivers throughout the entire processes (in-person or virtual appointments). The inventory was compiled involving a multidisciplinary team and using national databases. Finally, a 5-point scale (−2 to +2) was introduced to facilitate the results comparison. During traditional visits, patients spent €98.57 and caregivers €78.97 for prescription and visit phases, respectively. In televisit processes, total expenditures were €24.01 for patients and €19.6 for caregivers. The televisit delivery phase had the most significant benefits in both environmental and social impacts. Using the proposed framework allows for a formalized approach to broaden assessments, providing a more comprehensive overview for decision-making.