According to a study on air pollution around elementary schools, exposing children to pollution during important developmental milestones can have a long-lasting impact on their future health. The study showed a positive correlation between the long-term health of a child and the pollution measures found at their school. I am certain that other correlative factors, such as the potential socioeconomic impact of those living in high pollution areas, can be brought into this discussion. While this chicken and egg debate can continue unabetted, the impact of pollution on childhood health has started an important dialogue with regard to how to keep our communities healthy.
Now is a great time for this discussion. According to an article posted last week in Healthcare Finance News, childhood health issues caused by pollution cost the United States $76.6 billion in 2008. This is a dramatic increase compared to earlier years studied. Many public health advocates are now recommending updates to environmental regulations in order to protect the long term health of children.
Does Health IT Provide a Solution?
In light of the news about pollution and childhood health, I was very pleased to hear news about the greening effect of healthcare technology within the same news cycle. An article in Health IT News showed that the healthcare technology community is doing their part to keep communities healthy. An analysis from Kaiser Permanente showed that the use of Health IT had a dramatic impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In total, the study found that electronic medical records could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.7 million tons across the country. Kaiser estimates the following environmental impact from their own electronic medical record program:
- Elimination of 1,044 tons of paper
- 92,000 tons of carbon dioxide saved through replacing face-to-face visits with virtual visits
- 7,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions saved through filling prescriptions online
- Reduction in 33.3 tons of toxic chemicals through digital X-ray
As more providers continue down the path toward meaningful use, there will be many more good stewards to celebrate. How’s that for practicing preventive medicine?
