Preparing for the future: Hospital climate resilience plans challenged by cost, uncertainty

Frequent extreme weather events caused by climate change could increase hospital patient numbers and disrupt hospital operations. From 2000 to 2017, hospitals had to evacuate patients due to natural disasters 114 times. Hospital resilience planning for climate-change related disruptions is crucial but hampered by financial and workforce challenges, increasing service areas, and uncertainty around future climate events. Partnerships with federal or state governments, academic institutions, and local infrastructure could help hospitals plan for such disruptions.