Effects of climate change may pose business risk for healthcare facilities

Healthcare facilities need resiliency in design and operations to be prepared for extreme weather.

By Healthcare Facilities Today


The effects of climate change on healthcare facilities are not hypothetical future situations, but rather real and current events that will only continue, argues an article in Forbes.

The healthcare sector as a whole is impacted by climate change, due to a deteriorating environment that will lead to greater healthcare needs, says Gary Cohen, co-founder and president of Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth, in the article. But healthcare facilities themselves are also directly impacted and the threat needs to be addressed.

Cohen gives the examples of hospitals in Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy that suffered significant flooding, loss of research materials and extended closures. Healthcare facilities need resiliency in design and operations in order to be prepared for extreme weather, he says, citing the new Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, which considered climate change a key business risk. The hospital uses on-site power, operable windows and designed the building with the mechanical plant on the roof to mitigate the risk from climate change.  

Healthcare facilities, as significant consumers of energy, and as part of a sector that represents 18 percent of U.S. GDP, are also poised to facilitate the transition to a "post-fossil fuel economy," says the article. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels has the dual effect of boosting resiliency and supporting the healing mission of healthcare, Cohen says.

The article is part of a special series for World Health Day.

Read the article.

April 9, 2013


Topic Area: Sustainable Operations


Recent Posts

On the Lookout: The Software Supply Chain as a Healthcare Cyberattack Vector

Staying watchful of third-party software vendors and their activities is critical for healthcare cybersecurity.


Hackensack Meridian Health & Wellness Center at Clifton Opens

The Clifton center expands health care access in Passaic County by reducing barriers such as travel and wait times.


Suffolk Breaks Ground on Expansion of White Plains Hospital

The 10-story, approximately 500,000-square-foot expansion is slated to open in 2028.


EVS Leadership Culture Critical in Preventing Hospital-Acquired Sepsis

Cleaning is an essential yet complex component for the prevention of HAI-induced sepsis.


Man Dies by Suicide in Emergency Department Waiting Room at Kansas Hospital

No staff or patients were harmed, and the man was alone in the waiting area when he shot himself.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.