Project Summary:
Public concern about climate change is rising. The psychological toll of extreme weather and climate uncertainty has led to more cases of anxiety, stress, PTSD, and depression. Healthcare systems are stained due to climate-related patient surges, delivery disruptions from power outages, resources strains, and deepening health inequities. A 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance assessment at Froedtert found 86% of patients consider a healthier environment important to their health; 85% believe Froedtert should follow sustainable practices. Yet 51% were unaware of the hospital’s efforts to support a healthier planet.
Many healthcare professionals are also unaware of climate change’s health impacts in our community. There is a knowledge gap in climate-informed care. Climate action is often viewed narrowly as environmental protection, overlooking its impact on outcomes like disease, displacement, and mental health. This event addresses that gap by reframing climate and sustainability as healthcare concerns through storytelling and real-world experiences. The event will serve to teach members of the health workforce how climate change effects disease, mental health and population displacement. We will use the documentary film, The Here Now Project, to offer a candid look at climate change’s human impact. The film highlights real-life stories of people affected by environmental crises. After the screening, a panel of climate and health experts will share insights relevant to Wisconsin’s healthcare landscape. Audience members and panelists will discuss patient care, share experiences, and explore climate-informed practices. Breakout sessions will allow for further discussion.
Learning objectives include:
- Identify the relationship between climate change and human health on an individual and community level and explain the current state of affairs
- Identify climate-related factors affecting healthcare in Wisconsin
- Encourage collaboration among staff to improve care. This event will engage Froedtert healthcare staff in exploring the intersection of climate change and healthcare
The audience for this event will consist of nurses and other healthcare professionals and staff from Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). As one of the largest healthcare systems in Wisconsin, Froedtert Health employs a diverse health workforce across multiple locations, with nurses making up the largest group of professionals. While this event will be tailored to the needs and interests of nurses, it will also be open to other healthcare providers, administrators, support services, educators, and researchers from both Froedtert Health and MCW. The primary Froedtert campuses will include:
- Froedtert Main Campus (Milwaukee, WI) – A leading academic medical center providing tertiary and quaternary care in partnership with MCW
- Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital (Menomonee Falls, WI) – A community hospital serving patients in Waukesha County and surrounding areas
- Froedtert West Bend Hospital (West Bend, WI) – A regional hospital providing high-quality care to patients in Washington County and beyond
By bringing together healthcare professionals from these locations, the event will foster collaboration across multiple disciplines and care settings, strengthening the capacity of Wisconsin’s health workforce.