Vital Sounds 2025, Quarter 2
Vital Sounds 2025, Quarter 2
Is Your Ambulatory Clinic Prepared for Extreme Weather Events?
May 1, 2025
Is Your Ambulatory Clinic Prepared for Extreme Weather Events?
May 1, 2025
By Connie Christian, MBA, CPHRM
Extreme weather is no longer a distant concern—it’s a growing challenge for healthcare facilities nationwide. A recent national survey published in the Journal of Ambulatory Care Management (April/June 2025) sheds light on how climate-sensitive weather events are affecting frontline clinic operations—and how clinics are responding.
Key Findings from Survey
The survey included 284 self-identified administrators and other staff at frontline clinics. The goal was to determine their attitudes toward climate change and the impacts, resilience, and preparedness of clinics for extreme weather events.
- Resilience Perception: 50.9% of respondents reported that they believe their clinic is at least fairly resilient to extreme weather events, while another 17.1% reported that they believe their clinic is only a little or not at all resilient.
- Concern and Preparedness: 45.9% of participants reported concerns about extreme weather impacting their job, with barriers to preparedness including financing, knowledge, and resources.”[1]
- Protective Measures: Approximately 41.8% of participants said their clinic had taken steps to protect their clinic buildings, most commonly by installing backup generators and upgrading air conditioning. However, 33.8% reported they did not know if steps had been taken.
What’s Holding Back Preparedness?
The survey revealed these top obstacles to preparedness:
- Financing was the most cited barrier—85.0% said it was at least somewhat problematic.
- Access to knowledge and tools followed, with 78.0% marking it a challenge.
- Leadership governance was the least problematic factor, with 48.4% of participants stating this is not a problem.
Why This Matters for KAMMCO-Insured Clinics
Extreme weather events like extreme heat/cold, tornadoes, floods, and wildfires can:
- Disrupt care delivery and patient access
- Damage to systems and critical infrastructure
- Increase operational costs
- Directly results in patient harm
The potential risk or actual impact of extreme weather events was stated to have increased clinic operational expenses for nearly half (46.7%) of participants. For participants with additional costs due to extreme weather, over half reported costs for electrical system upgrades, building repairs, and staffing.[2]
What Can You Do?
Preparedness starts with awareness and planning. Nearly half of the participants (46.6%) stated they conduct annual or biennial hazard and vulnerability assessments.[3]
Want to Assess Your Clinic's Risk?
Visit KAMMCO’s Risk Management page to access the Ambulatory Risk Assessment Tool.
Or download the tool directly here: https://www.kammco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Final_RM-Assessment-Ambulatory-Medical_20221026.pdf.
References
[1] 2,3Wiskel, Tess MD, MPH; Matthews-Trigg, Nathaniel MPH; Stevens, Kristin MS; Miles, Thomas T. PhD; Dresser, Caleb MD, MPH; Bernstein, Aaron MD, MPH. Frontline Clinic Administrator Perspectives on Extreme Weather Events, Clinic Operations, and Climate Resilience. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management 48(2):p 73-83, April/June 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/JAC.0000000000000519 https://journals.lww.com/ambulatorycaremanagement/fulltext/2025/04000/frontline_clinic_administrator_perspectives_on.3.aspx