Family Medicine, DM Family Medicine, Family Physician
dr.mendoza.fm@gmail.com
Miss Mabel left home just after daybreak, hoping to beat the crowd at the clinic. As she stepped onto the main road, the air thick with Saharan dust, she began coughing; a dry, persistent cough that would not ease. Still, she pressed on. A maxi pulled up, windows wide open; she climbed in. Traffic crawled. Engines idled. Fumes hung heavily in the air. By the time she reached her destination, she already felt drained.
She stepped out at the taxi stand, pausing to steady herself. The sun was scorching. Smoke from a nearby wildfire further irritated her airways. The coughing resumed. The usual five-minute walk to the clinic now felt much longer. Each step was slower than the last. She grew lightheaded as the heat, dust, and exhaust took their toll.
All of this, the journey, exposure and discomfort, was for a routine follow-up that, after hours of waiting, resulted only in a brief review of blood pressure readings and medication adjustments.
Miss Mabel’s experience is not unique. Many patients across Trinidad and Tobago experience physical, financial and environmental strain in accessing healthcare, raising an important question: as digital tools increasingly become part of everyday life, how can healthcare be delivered in a way that reduces this burden while still preserving the compassion and connection patients need?
As we observe World Family Doctor Day under the theme “Compassionate Care in a Digital World,” this question feels especially relevant. Compassionate care is about understanding the lived experiences of patients like Miss Mabel and responding in ways that reduce their burden rather than add to it.
Digital health, the use of technology to support healthcare and well-being, offers one such opportunity. This includes wearable devices such as smartwatches that track heart rate and activity, mobile apps that help patients monitor chronic conditions and virtual consultations that allow patients to speak with a doctor by phone or video call without travelling to a clinic. It also includes electronic medical records and communication systems that help healthcare workers provide safer, more coordinated care.
At the centre of this evolving landscape are family doctors. Family physicians are often the first point of contact within the healthcare system, providing person-centred care while understanding the social and environmental realities that shape health. In a digital world, one of their roles is to ensure that technology enhances care without replacing human connections.
When climate meets chronic disease
Family doctors must pay attention not only to diet and exercise, but also to the social and environmental conditions in which people live. As climate change increasingly affects daily life, these influences are becoming more visible when caring for patients with chronic disease.
The connection between climate change and non-communicable diseases is becoming increasingly evident in Trinidad and Tobago. Extreme heat places added strain on patients with hypertension and heart disease, sometimes leading to dizziness, dehydration, or acute cardiovascular events. Saharan dust and vehicle emissions worsen asthma and other respiratory illnesses, resulting in more clinic visits for cough and wheeze.
Environmental disruptions also affect how patients manage chronic conditions. Flooding and severe weather can limit access to clinics and pharmacies, leading to missed appointments and interruptions in treatment. Rising temperatures may discourage outdoor activity, contributing to sedentary lifestyles and poorer metabolic control. Together, these factors demonstrate how air pollution, heat and environmental instability are affecting both individual well-being and healthcare delivery.
Digital health and planetary health
For Miss Mabel, digital health could mean a very different experience. Instead of navigating dust, traffic, and heat for a routine follow-up, she could check in with her doctor from home. Her blood pressure readings could be shared electronically, prescriptions adjusted remotely and clinic visits scheduled only when necessary. The time, cost and physical strain of travel would all be reduced.
But this is about more than convenience. It reflects the concept of planetary health: the understanding that human health is deeply connected to the environment. The air Miss Mabel breathes, the heat she endures and the pollution she encounters all shape her well-being. Rethinking healthcare delivery also becomes part of a wider responsibility. Fewer unnecessary trips to clinics can mean fewer emissions, less congestion, and more efficient healthcare systems.
When used thoughtfully, digital health can support patient care and environmental sustainability. It can help healthcare systems become more efficient, resilient and responsive to climate-related challenges, an important consideration for small island states like T&T. However, progress requires investment in infrastructure, training and supportive policies, while ensuring that no patient is left behind. Digital health must improve access, not widen existing gaps.
Ultimately, compassionate care in a digital world is not simply about technology. It is about using these tools to make healthcare safer, more accessible and more humane for patients like Miss Mabel, by making the journey easier before even entering the doctor’s office.
The foregoing is a weekly column by EarthMedic and EarthNurse NGO to help readers understand and address the climate crisis.
