Climate-Smart Diagnostic Medical Imaging and Point-of-Care Ultrasound: An Evidence-Based Perspective.

BACKGROUND

Hospital diagnostic imaging significantly contributes to healthcare's carbon emissions, with modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), accounting for a disproportionate share of energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While clinical value remains paramount, sustainability must become part of imaging decision-making.

OBJECTIVES

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is known for its portability, cost-effectiveness, and bedside efficiency, but its environmental impact remain underexplored. This review aims to examine GHG emissions across imaging modalities and highlights POCUS as an eco-friendlier alternative within a broader strategy to align diagnostic imaging with global climate goals.

DISCUSSION

POCUS consumes less energy, generates minimal standby emissions, and avoids infrastructure-intensive setups. It also reduces indirect energy use from patient transport and prolonged hospital stays. Life-cycle analyses support ultrasound as a low-emission option, with its high portability, compact design, lower disposable waste, battery-powered operation, and lack of need for contrast agents in most applications. Broader integration of POCUS, particularly in selected clinical settings where it can precede or replace more carbon-intensive modalities, offers a practical strategy to reduce healthcare emissions. When paired with artificial intelligence (AI) integration, tele-ultrasound, and stewardship frameworks, appropriate POCUS use can minimize unnecessary imaging and support climate-smart practices.

CONCLUSION

With the escalating climate crisis, the environmental impact of medical imaging particularly from MRI and CT can no longer be ignored. Prioritizing ultrasound, a low impact modality, as the first-line option where appropriate, can reduce reliance on high-emission imaging and advance a more sustainable, climate smart approach to diagnostic care.

PRESENTATION

The abstract was presented at the SAEM24 Annual Meeting, held in Phoenix, Arizona, in May 2024.