CHI Speaker Series: Warren Lavey on "Hospitals Should Help Address Climate Change Through Community Health Needs Assessments"

Tax exempt hospitals and public health districts engage with community organizations and residents every three years in assessing and prioritizing community health needs, and then in developing implementation plans to address the priority needs.  With climate change affecting the health of every resident of Illinois and worsening, these community health needs assessments should integrate climate-related metrics and spur hospitals to engage with communities in climate resilience planning and education, prepare their operations for extreme weather and poor air quality conditions, reduce their environmental footprints, and advocate for climate resilience policies.