Why Eco-Conscious Entrepreneurs Are Rethinking Healthcare Delivery Models
Thinking about starting a mobile healthcare business? There’s a good chance you care about sustainability.
The healthcare industry generates 4.4% of the world’s carbon emissions each year. That’s larger than many countries’ contributions and equivalent to 514 coal-powered plants combined.
And this number continues to rise as demand for healthcare skyrockets.
The problem is traditional hospitals and clinics require massive amounts of energy, waste and resources.
Fortunately eco-friendly entrepreneurs are challenging the status quo and discovering why mobile clinic operational efficiency can help them do well by doing good.
What you’re going to learn:
- How Traditional Healthcare Facilities Damage The Environment
- Why Mobile Clinics = Operational Efficiency
- Why Going Mobile is Greener
- How To Start An Eco-friendly Mobile Clinic Business
How Traditional Healthcare Facilities Damage The Environment
Picture how many resources a hospital uses in one day.
Lights. Heating and cooling systems. Buildings large enough to require their own zip code. Hospitals run 24/7 and use massive amounts of energy to keep their doors open. In fact, studies show facility care accounts for the majority of healthcare’s carbon emissions.
This is terrible news if you care about protecting the environment.
But…
Most of that impact comes from one-time costs that mobile clinics can drastically reduce. Deciding between mobile medical coaches and trailer-based clinics is just the beginning of how entrepreneurs can improve operational efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint.
Mobile clinics use way less energy than traditional models. You don’t need acres of parking lots or several thousands of square feet conditioned space. Mobile clinics can travel directly to patients that need help most.
How Mobile Clinics Equal Operational Efficiency
Ok but how does mobile clinic operational efficiency factor into all this?
Great question.
Mobile clinics = operational efficiency because they do more with less. Spending less money on overhead allows you to take that extra capital and direct it towards helping your patients. No cost leasing hundreds of thousands of square feet. No outrageous monthly utility bills.
It’s no surprise that the mobile clinics market size is expected to reach $15.76 billion by 2034. That’s upwards of $2 billion in growth over the next few years.
Here are a few reasons mobile clinics are so operationally efficient:
- Overhead costs are dramatically lower when you don’t have to maintain a permanent brick and mortar facility.
- Staff can be deployed directly to high-demand areas which reduces wasted space and effort.
- Mobile clinics help reduce patient no-shows by meeting them where they’re at.
- Scaling your staffing to fit your services allows you to roll with the punches without paying a squad of doctors and nurses to sit around.
- Vehicles can travel directly to patients which saves on fuel and transportation costs.
Going mobile gives entrepreneurs more flexibility when it comes time to deliver services. Which means less money wasted and more opportunities to make a positive impact.
Going Mobile Is Greener
Besides saving you tons of money, mobile clinic operational efficiency is about creating a sustainable healthcare solution.
Traditional brick-and-mortar medical facilities are extremely harmful to the environment.
Once they’re built they will continue to produce emissions for years (if not decades). But mobile clinics can utilize solar panels, reduce emissions during transit and serve as readily upgradable vehicles that get better and greener with age.
And it’s not just about reducing carbon emissions.
Mobile Clinics Produce Less Construction Waste
Think about how much waste is produced during construction. Building a traditional clinic opens you up to decades of pollution and a significant carbon footprint. A mobile clinic takes that giant target off your back.
Most mobile clinics are built on existing vehicle chassis and can use sustainable materials that just aren’t feasible for large facilities.
Mobile Clinics Have Smaller Footprints
Not only do mobile clinics take up less space while parked and operational, but they also help you avoid large facility maintenance expenses.
Large parking lots, outdoor lighting and landscaping at hospitals and clinics require energy (and money) that you can avoid with a mobile clinic.
Mobile Clinics Create Less Medical Waste
No surgery = less waste.
It’s as simple as that.
Smaller clinics will always produce less waste. But when you think about how much medical waste a hospital produces… mobile clinics allow you to cut out the excess.
When you’re servicing thousands of patients each day there’s no denying you’ll generate more waste.
Medical Equipment Breaks
Another argument for specializing in specific services is broken equipment.
Larger hospitals will naturally have more expensive equipment that costs thousands to repair. By scaling your equipment to your services you limit those unnecessary costs.
How To Build An Eco-friendly Mobile Clinic Business
Ready to join the movement?
Before you go buy that old school bus take a minute to understand how operational efficiency can make or break your business.
Mobile clinics aren’t a get rich quick scheme. Sure they require less overhead than traditional models but rushing into this without the proper strategy will leave you burning money instead of delivering care.
Here are some steps to get you started.
Pick the Right Foundation
First things first: what are you going to drive? Every mobile clinic business will have a slightly different vehicle. You’ll need to choose between a coach, trailer or van based on your service offerings. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Reduce waste and scale your vehicle to your services.
Invest In The Right Equipment
Not all medical equipment was created equal. Look for low-wattage medical tools that run diagnostic machines. Energy-efficient lighting and climate control can also drastically reduce your facility’s carbon footprint.
Embrace Remote Care
Contrary to popular belief, telemedicine is an operational efficiency hack. By introducing telehealth into your mobile clinic you can reduce repeat visits and provide remote care to patients who need it.
Partner With Your Community
Ever heard the saying go lean on your partners?
One of the biggest benefits of mobile medicine is partnering with local organizations. Not only do partnerships provide you with consistent locations to deploy your services, but they help you find the people who need you most.
Measure Your Success
This cannot be stressed enough.
Every entrepreneur should be measuring their mobile clinic’s output and fuel consumption. Use that data to improve your operation and reduce unnecessary waste.
Talk to experts who have been there.
Bonus tip: measure everything.
Conclusion
Ok so why are sustainable entrepreneurs interested in mobile healthcare?
Because the old way of doing things is bad for the planet.
Entrepreneurs can’t ignore the impact traditional clinics have on the environment. Not only are they less financially sustainable but they require massive amounts of resources and produce miles worth of emissions.
Mobile clinics allow healthcare professionals to reduce waste and deliver services on their terms. Which is why experts predict the industry will exceed $15 billion by 2034.
If you want to make money and help save the planet mobile clinics are for you.
The demand is there. The technology is here. All that’s left is for you to take action and build the business you’ve been dreaming about.