Calculating Carbon Reduction via Pediatric Outreach Clinics From a Surgical Patient Cohort

Transportation is a major contributor to carbon emissions. This study evaluates the carbon footprint reduction associated with surgical outreach clinics as an alternative to patients traveling long distances to a tertiary medical center.

We retrospectively analyzed pediatric pectus excavatum (PE) patients seen in two outreach clinics between 2012 and 2024. Distances from patients' homes to both the children's hospital and outreach clinics were calculated. Using the average distance traveled per PE patient and Environmental Protection Agency's emission factor of 400 g of CO₂ per mile, we estimated the carbon footprint reduction for all pediatric patients seen at our outreach clinics over the last three calendar years.

There were 33 PE patients who had 142 total outpatient visits that met inclusion for this study. There were 10,470 total pediatric patient outreach visits from January 2022 through September 2024. The use of outreach clinics was associated with an estimated reduction in carbon emissions of 695.3 metric tons for all pediatric patients between 2022 and 2024 (67% reduction) and with an estimated savings of $273,065 in travel expenses over this 33-mo period.

The use of outreach clinics was associated with an estimated reduction in carbon emissions for all pediatric patients while offering some economic benefits. Outreach clinics present a practical strategy for enhancing health care delivery, lowering costs, and reducing environmental impact.