Extreme weather events multiply and amplify the impacts of climate change on health service delivery.
Recent events have shown that health facilities are at higher risk of strains, failures or closure during record-breaking wildfires, prolonged heatwaves and powerful windstorms. Cascading impacts on patients, health staff and communities can be high.
Health authorities can ensure that major investments in patient care are able to weather unexpected events with climate-resilient facility design and operations. Health system collaboration among facilities, public health and emergency management is key to preparing communities for our new climate reality while building resilience for the organization as a whole.
Investing in Climate Resilient Health Facilities & Operational Services for Fraser Health, Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is an executive summary of the Moving Toward Climate Resilient Health Facilities report series.
