Stress Testing the Capacity of Health Systems to Manage Climate Change-Related Shocks and Stresses

Kristie L. Ebi, Peter Berry, Katie Hayes, Christopher Boyer, Samuel Sellers, Paddy M. Enright and Jeremy J. Hess
Additional contact information
Kristie L. Ebi: Center for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
Peter Berry: Climate Change and Innovation Bureau, Health Canada, 269 Laurier Ave. West, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
Katie Hayes: Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
Christopher Boyer: Center for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
Samuel Sellers: Center for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
Paddy M. Enright: Climate Change and Innovation Bureau, Health Canada, 269 Laurier Ave. West, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
Jeremy J. Hess: Center for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105, USA

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Vulnerability and adaptation assessments can provide valuable input to foster climate-resilient health systems. However, these assessments often do not explore the potential health risks of climate change far outside the range of recent experience with extreme weather events and other climate-related hazards. Climate and health stress tests are designed to increase the capacity of health systems and related sectors to manage potentially disruptive climate-related shocks and stresses. Stress tests focus on hypothetical scenarios, during which it would be difficult for the health system to maintain its essential function of providing services to protect population health. The stress test explores approaches to effectively manage acute and chronic climate-related events and conditions that could directly impact health systems, and climate-related events in non-health sectors that can indirectly impact health outcomes and/or health system function. We provide detailed methods and guidance for conducting climate and health stress tests, centering on three primary activities: (1) preparing and scoping the stress test; (2) successfully conducting the stress test; and (3) communicating the results to key stakeholders to facilitate policy and programmatic reforms.

Keywords: climate change; climate variability; health risks of climate change; health systems; health workforce; stress test; vulnerability and adaptation assessments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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