
Are we ready for the climate health crisis?
- TRANSFORMERS.health
- June 10, 2024
- DIGITAL MATURITY
- hospital
- 0 Comments
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many health systems demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability. However, this should not lull us into a false sense of security about our readiness for future health crises, particularly those linked to climate change. As the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified, climate change now poses the greatest threat to global health, demanding urgent and comprehensive action.
by Toni Laracuente
India’s recent unprecedented heat wave, which saw temperatures soar to a record 52.9°C (127.22°F), serves as a stark reminder of the extreme conditions that are becoming more frequent and severe. The health effects of such rising temperatures and other natural hazards resulting from climate change are well-documented. Despite this, preparedness levels vary significantly across governments and health systems worldwide. The challenge is vast, requiring robust government policies, incentives, and widespread public awareness. Some leaders are making strides with proactive initiatives, while others lag due to constraints like resource availability and political will.
COVID-19 showed that well-funded, well-resourced health systems performed better, but it was a wake-up call. We must use these lessons to plan, adapt, and build resilience for future challenges.
Digital maturity to mitigate climate change impacts
In my role at HIMSS Analytics, I led the integration of climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience into the INFRAM digital maturity model. This model, designed to assess health systems’ digital infrastructure, is now equipping them to also tackle the climate-related health crises more effectively.
Key areas where digital technologies can make a significant impact include:
Enhanced Data Analytics and Predictive Modeling: Leveraging advanced data analytics and AI enables health systems to predict climate-related health events and outbreaks with greater accuracy, allowing for targeted and efficient resource allocation.
Telehealth and Remote Monitoring: Telehealth services can bridge equity gaps by providing access to healthcare in regions severely impacted by climate change, and become crucial during emergencies when physical access to healthcare facilities is disrupted.
Integrated Health Information Systems: Interoperable electronic health records ensure seamless care continuity across regions, which is essential during climate emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks.
Resource Management: Advanced digital systems can optimize clinical supply chains and workforce management, ensuring that resources are available where and when they are most needed.
Public Health Communication: Digital platforms play a critical role in disseminating accurate and timely information, educating communities, and providing guidance during climate emergencies.
Resilience and Adaptability: Digitally mature health systems can quickly adapt to changing circumstances, a critical factor observed during the COVID-19 pandemic and essential for future climate-related challenges.
Keeping pace with climate change
Keeping pace with the rapid changes brought about by climate change hinges on economic resources and political will. With around 600,000 annual deaths and $142 billion in economic costs attributed to climate-related health impacts, there is a pressing need for action. Mitigation, adaptation, and building resilience through investment in digital transformation and innovative data analytics are crucial to stemming these losses.
Targeted digital maturity can help mitigate climate change impacts. Enhanced data analytics, telehealth, and integrated HIS are crucial for predicting events, ensuring resources, and maintaining care during emergencies.
The digital transformation initiatives being led by national governments and global organisations such as the WHO, OECD, and the Global Digital Health Partnership offer a glimmer of hope. As the impacts of climate change become more evident in our daily lives, these efforts must accelerate and specifically target the health risks and challenges associated with climate change. Only through concerted, collaborative efforts can we hope to prepare adequately for the health crises that lie ahead.
Toni Laracuente, formerly the senior vice president and global head of HIMSS Analytics, has over thirty years of experience in nursing, healthcare IT, informatics, and executive leadership. She leads a global team of specialists, partnering with governments and health systems on the digital transformation of healthcare. Toni is passionate about using innovative technology and data analytics to enhance health outcomes and operational efficiency. She is a thought leader in climate sustainability in health systems and is a contributing author on the subject in the upcoming book on Digital Maturity in Hospitals published by Springer. She is based in the United States.