Abstract
Healthcare apps were previously designed for scheduling appointments and to access patient information. However, due to the rapidly evolving technology, healthcare applications have turned into digital medical platforms. They enable doctors to conduct teleconsultation with the patients and perform remote diagnostics. They also help in chronic disease monitoring and in management of prescriptions. This study examines how health care apps not only improve service access, but also contribute to environmental sustainability. The study employs a comparative quantitative method with conceptual implications that evaluate differences in carbon emissions between telehealth service and conventional in-person health care delivery. The research analyses the carbon footprint drivers such as patient travel and energy consumption in medical facilities. The study suggests that particular apps involving teleconsultation and remote patient monitoring reduce emissions due to travel to a great extent. They also reduce the usage of papers and physical infrastructure. The analysis of this study supports the fact that the digital Health Care apps offer a more sustainable alternative and support hospitals in aligning with ESG (environmental, social and governance) commitments. By achieving the above, healthcare apps act as strategic brand extenders for hospital medical services. This study provides suggestions to extend the medical services by using healthcare apps and to build competitiveness in sustainable healthcare markets.
Keywords:Telemedicine, Healthcare apps, Carbon footprint, Brand extension, ESG strategy, Sustainable healthcare app.
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