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

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 re...