Climate Change Considerations for Healthcare Emergency Preparedness

(8/8/2024)

Are climate change considerations part of your emergency preparedness and response plans? They should be. Already, “climate change-related events are straining healthcare workers, disrupting physical infrastructure, and interrupting supply chains, making it more difficult to treat patients and threatening healthcare quality and safety,” say researchers. Here’s why climate change considerations are essential for keeping hospitals operational during disasters.

On any given day, a cursory look through news headlines illustrates the rising frequency and intensity of natural disasters affecting patient care. Wildfires, floods and hurricanes are some examples of severe weather events we can expect to grow, exacerbated by climate change. Already, “climate change-related events are straining healthcare workers, disrupting physical infrastructure, and interrupting supply chains, making it more difficult to treat patients and threatening healthcare quality and safety,” say researchers. 

At the same time, sustainability is a growing target for many health systems as leaders become more mindful of reducing their carbon footprint and employing eco-friendly resources such as electric vehicles or microgrids with solar and wind power. It’s a necessary move, considering that healthcare operations contribute significantly to climate change and the corresponding health effects our facilities treat, the Health Care Climate Council reports.  

New sustainability initiatives might spur ramifications that impact your emergency response. If you have an electric fleet, for example, how will you charge those vehicles if your community loses power for days? Or, what happens if your solar panels get covered in ashes or debris, and can’t power the hospital? 

Allow us to state the obvious: As climate conditions evolve and sustainability programs are implemented in your facilities, you must consider how they might affect your emergency preparedness and response. Notably, climate threats can create a cascade of outcomes, such as severe wildfires contributing to water and air pollution, soil contamination and flooding, Health Facilities Management reports: “As healthcare facilities plan and prepare for climate-related disasters, threats cannot be considered standalone issues. Instead, holistic approaches that recognize the relationships between these impacts are akin to a spiderweb with complex interactions are what hospitals need for successful planning, response and recovery.”

Bolstering your emergency response and resiliency    

As threats to patient safety evolve, so must your emergency planning and response. Looking for guidance in building a strong emergency management program that can withstand real-world crises? We’d love to help. Download the resource below and let us know what questions we can answer for you.