EHS achieves a 12% reduction in carbon emissions with AI and telemedicine

The Emirates Health Services (EHS) has revealed the outcomes of its Green Patient Care project, which was launched earlier this year as part of its sustainability drive.

The announcement came during EHS' participation in an event titled "Climate and Health response in UAE," which was hosted by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) on the sidelines of COP28 at Expo City.

The results

According to EHS, the healthcare facilities in the UAE receive close to 2.6 million outpatient visits in a year. Studies suggest around 17% of the total emissions of the healthcare sector result from the transportation of patients and medical aid, leading to 5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions monthly. EHS forecasted six months of emissions using advanced statistical techniques and developed an AI-based solution to reduce these emissions.

Dr. Sara AlShaya, Director of the Data and Statistics Department at EHS, presented the outcomes of the Green Patient Care project, speaking extensively about the Virtual Health Clinics/Telemedicine and the AI model in providing health services while reducing carbon footprint.

As part of its Green Patient Care project, EHS launched the first-of-a-kind CO2 simulator for the estimation of carbon emission due to patient commute and used advanced AI to identify avoidable in-person visits. These initiatives led to 300,000 e-visits in 2023, which resulted in cutting down more than 6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. They also helped in creating awareness among patients about the carbon footprint generated by hospital visits and urged them to use virtual consultation whenever possible.

The virtual care was also enhanced using an advanced AI model, which proactively identified visits to be converted to tele-visits. The machine learning model outputs were integrated within the appointment booking system to assist the conversion to tele-visits effectively. These initiatives resulted in an overall 12% reduction in CO2 emissions.

The project involves continuous monitoring and training across EHS to reduce carbon emissions and make the Healthcare Sector more sustainable.

M42, Siemens to advance energy efficiency in UAE health industry

In related news, we saw Abu Dhabi-based M42 teaming up with Siemens to boost energy efficiency across the UAE healthcare sector through a partnership that will audit its health facilities for energy efficiency and explore digitalization of the infrastructure.

The project's initial phase involves a comprehensive energy efficiency audit of the healthcare facilities operated by M42 across the UAE. These audits are designed to identify opportunities for substantial energy savings and examine means for carbon emission reductions.

Siemens and M42 have further committed to discussing and developing a roadmap that will lead to the digitalization of M42's infrastructure.

This digital transformation aims to enhance operational efficiency and improve the comfort of patients, healthcare professionals, and staff at M42's facilities.

The partnership will leverage the Siemens Xcelerator platform, setting a new industry standard for healthcare sustainability.

The first audit, conducted in late November, found that one of M42's healthcare facilities could achieve significant savings in energy costs through heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) retrofits, and through the integration of space management systems via Siemens Enlighted portfolio that centralizes energy management into a building management system.

Implementing these energy-saving solutions across M42's portfolio of hospitals and clinics — the largest network in the Middle East — promises substantial reductions in carbon emissions and increases in operational efficiency.

The context

According to the international non-governmental organization Health Care Without Harm, emissions from healthcare facilities make up 17% of the sector's worldwide footprint. Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, steam, cooling and heating comprise another 12%. So yes, the initiatives by EHS and M42 make sense.