Climate Change and Clinical Practice: Workgroup Sign Up

Climate ready clinicians can be advocates to help health systems adapt to climate shocks, credibly address deeply rooted environmental justice issues and effectively lead health care systems to decarbonize. From prolonged wildfire smoke to floods and the 2021 heat dome, the Pacific Northwest has experienced many significant adverse health impacts from events in recent years that would not have occurred without human influence on climate.

These issues, coupled with ongoing challenges like limited health care capacity, have created a health crisis causing unprecedented risks to health and welfare while simultaneously widening health disparities. Our healthcare system has a responsibility to ensure that our practitioners and the systems in which we practice maintain their ability to provide outstanding clinical care in the face of these challenges.

As a first step to address this issue, on March 28, 2024, over 100 stakeholders from across the spectrum of clinical practice and health care operations connected for a daylong symposium to consider the implications of the climate crisis on our health systems. Now, we are seeking medical practitioners, faculty and staff to join a working group to move this work forward. Learn more about each workgroup and sign up using the button below.

Workgroup 1: Faculty and Staff Development and Education for Climate Resilient and Sustainable Health Care

Overview: The Workgroup on Faculty and Staff Development and Education for Climate Resilient and Sustainable Health Care is dedicated to equipping faculty members with the expertise and resources needed to integrate Education for Sustainable Health Care (ESHC) into their curricula and professional development activities. This initiative responds to recent needs assessments indicating a strong desire among health professionals for improved understanding and teaching tools related to the intersection of climate change and health care. We aim to foster a generation of health care practitioners across the WWAMI region who are not only aware of but also capable of addressing the health impacts of climate change and promoting sustainable practices within the health sector.

Key Objectives:

Enhance Knowledge and Skills: Provide faculty and staff with a comprehensive understanding of eco-medical literacy, including the effects of environmental changes on health, the health sector’s impact on the environment, and sustainable health care solutions.

Develop Pedagogical Tools: Create and disseminate innovative teaching resources and strategies that integrate ESHC concepts into medical and health education.

Promote Critical Thinking: Encourage health professionals to think critically about and act upon the climate crisis’s health and societal impacts.

Support Implementation: Assist educators in incorporating ESHC into existing curricula and professional development programs.

Foster Collaboration: Build a network of educators and practitioners committed to advancing climate-resilient and sustainable health care practices across the WWAMI region.

Workgroup 2: Direct Patient Care Support and Communication for Climate Resilient and Sustainable Clinical Practice

Overview: The Workgroup on Direct Patient Care Support and Communication for Climate Resilient and Sustainable Clinical Practice is dedicated to enhancing patient care and communication strategies in response to the increasing impact of extreme weather events on health outcomes. The target audience of this workgroup is all UW Medicine clinicians. Our mission is to develop and implement effective strategies for direct patient care that address the challenges posed by extreme weather events. By focusing on specific solutions including anticipatory guidance, tailored discharge instructions, and innovative digital health solutions, we aim to improve patient outcomes and ensure a more resilient and sustainable health care system.

Key Objectives:

Anticipatory Guidance: Enhance the use of anticipatory guidance to proactively prevent and address the health impacts of extreme weather events on UW Medicine patients.

Discharge Instructions: Design and implement comprehensive discharge instructions tailored to vulnerable patient populations who are at risk due to climate-sensitive extreme weather events.

Digital Health Solutions: Explore and utilize digital health technologies, including telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and electronic medical records, to support climate resilience and improve patient care.

Sustainability in Clinical Practice: identify and implement scalable opportunities for improved sustainability in clinical practice.

Workgroup 3: Sustainability Governance and Administration

Overview: The Workgroup on Sustainability Governance and Administration is dedicated to advancing sustainability initiatives across UW Medicine campuses by providing strategic advice and support. The target audience of this working group includes UW Medicine leadership and policy makers. Restructuring health care systems to be more sustainable requires the involvement of key stakeholders, including clinicians who play a crucial role in guiding the process and ensuring a safe, patient-centered transition.

Key Objectives:

Strategic Planning: Assist in creating and refining a comprehensive sustainability strategy that aligns with UW Medicine’s goals and integrates across its campuses.

Position Development: Support the design and implementation of the Clinical Director for Sustainability position, including role definition, job description, and recruitment strategies.

Collaboration Initiatives: Foster partnerships and collaborations between different clinical departments, administrative teams, and external stakeholders to drive sustainability efforts.

Guidance and Advising: Provide expert advice and recommendations on best practices, policy development, and implementation strategies for health care sustainability.

Questions? Please contact Stefan Wheat (UW Department of Emergency Medicine) at wheati2@uw.edu.