Emergency Rooms Overwhelmed By Climate Illnesses
According to a new study, emergency room traffic in some parts of the US is rising because of illnesses and health conditions caused by the climate crisis. The National Council On Economic Research, titled “Killer Congestion: Temperature, Healthcare Utilization and Patient Outcomes.” The study focuses on heat-related illnesses.
*Heat In America
*Heat Deaths Could Kill Millions
“Extreme heat imperils health and results in more emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. Since temperature affects many individuals within a region simultaneously, these health impacts could lead to surges in healthcare demand that generate hospital congestion,” the experts noted. They also note that the only solution is increased investment in emergency room facilities and “improved surge management tools.” There is no guarantee there is funding for the first of these.
New Mexico And Texas
Most sections of the country have warmed over the last several decades. The areas where heat is and has been the most severe are Texas, New Mexico, Southern California, and Nevada. However, temperatures can top 100 F in the northern tier of states.
The problem is similar to that caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, although not as severe. Overcrowding in emergency rooms means people wait longer for care, even if the quality of the care remains the same.
Air Conditioning
The emergency room problem is similar to other facility issues, ranging from air conditioning to controlling midday work schedules during extreme temperatures.
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