Climate Change and the Dangers it poses to Healthcare Systems
The soaring temperatures we’re experiencing are expected to make this year the hottest year recorded — surpassing last year’s unprecedented heat. This alarming trend not only raises immediate health risks related to heat waves but also exacerbates the dangers of extreme weather events driven by climate change, such as rising sea levels, increased sea surface temperatures, dust storms, flooding, wildfires, and more.
Added Strain on Healthcare Systems
In 2024, we’ve already witnessed the devastation caused by multiple natural disasters across the country. Extreme weather events often overwhelm already-fragile healthcare systems. For example, in the aftermath of 2017’s Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, nearly 2,000 people died from failures of the system to adequately respond, rather than just the direct impact of the storm.
Addressing the impacts of climate change is a core issue for health equity, community health and well-being. Founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by public and private stakeholders, Healthcare Ready is dedicated to advancing equity by convening diverse sector to address systemic and structural inequities that disproportionately impact communities of color, low-income individuals, medically fragile, and other vulnerable groups during disasters and emergencies.
“Our position as a nexus between public and private sectors enables us to see the bigger picture and connect what is typically seen as disparate elements of public health and healthcare supply chains. Communities facing social vulnerabilities also tend to live in environments that are created with fewer resources to adapt to disasters because of long-standing discriminatory policies that have pushed marginalized communities to live in hazard-prone areas,” says Tom Cotter, executive director of Healthcare Ready.
Continuing Our Response to Natural Disasters
Building resilience and preparing the tools necessary to mitigate disasters before they occur is essential to effective disaster preparedness. During natural disasters, Healthcare Ready is in rigorous communication with private and public sector partners to monitor impacts, shortages, supply chain needs, and potential vulnerabilities.
Our efforts include:
- Rapid access to the right contacts in the private sector or government
- Coordination with federal, state and local officials, nonprofits and shelters to ensure coordination and assistance with access to medicine
- Coordination with HHS, FEMA, state EOCs, and private sector companies
- Assistance with donations to shelters
- Facilitating access to healthcare facilities to ensure deliveries and personnel have access into restricted areas or with resuming operations
- Sharing information and promoting the use of medicine assistance programs
PBS News Hour: Healthcare Ready Responds after Hurricane Ian
The healthcare system itself can play a significant role in combating climate change. The American Medical Association reported in 2023 that healthcare-related carbon emissions were approximately 8.5% of total national emissions in the country. A handful of health systems have cut carbon emissions and have increased risk and disaster preparedness efforts.
As climate change continues to reshape our world, healthcare systems must adapt to and overcome the challenges posed by our warming planet. Whether it is building resilience, preparing for extreme weather events, working to combat the disproportionate health impacts on low-income communities and communities of color, it is crucial to protect the healthcare systems that play an integral role in protecting the health and well-being of our communities. The cost of inaction will be exceedingly high.
