The Impact of a Series of Hurricanes on the Visits to Two Central Florida Emergency Departments

Platz, Elke; Cooper, Herbert P.; Silvestri, Salvatore; Siebert, Carl

doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.02.023

Cited by 39 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…However, we were unable to find or calculate a quantitative assessment of hospitalizations and emergency department visits. 22,39,40 The lack of comprehensive health data could lead to underestimates. But inferring health care use based on the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey disease categories and assigning average costs to climate-related health outcomes could, in some cases, result in overestimates.…”

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confidence: 99%

Six Climate Change–Related Events In The United States Accounted For About $14 Billion In Lost Lives And Health Costs

et al. 2011

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The future health costs associated with predicted climate change-related events such as hurricanes, heat waves, and floods are projected to be enormous. This article estimates the health costs associated with six climate change-related events that struck the United States between 2000 and 2009. The six case studies came from categories of climate change-related events projected to worsen with continued global warming-ozone pollution, heat waves, hurricanes, infectious disease outbreaks, river flooding, and wildfires. We estimate that the health costs exceeded $14 billion, with 95 percent due to the value of lives lost prematurely. Actual health care costs were an estimated $740 million. This reflects more than 760,000 encounters with the health care system. Our analysis provides scientists and policy makers with a methodology to use in estimating future health costs related to climate change and highlights the growing need for public health preparedness. C limate change endangers public health. Rising atmospheric temperatures increase the frequency, intensity, duration, and geographic extent of heat waves, air pollution episodes, wildfires, activity of infectious disease vectors, rising sea levels, storms, extreme rainfall, and flooding. 1,2Prior studies have estimated future health costs related to climate change.3-6 However, these figures are not specific enough to form the basis of health policy decisions. No US study has evaluated specific health outcomes associated with a set of events related to climate change. 7,8 There is currently no well-accepted structure for quantifying the costs of the human health effects of climate change, in part because of the challenges of identifying comprehensive health impact data and a lack of consensus on health cost valuation methods. Some methods estimate health costs in monetary terms; others use physical units such as the number of lives saved or the number of cases of illness avoided. Another approach is to use indicators such as quality-adjusted life-years, a measure that incorporates both mortality and morbidity effects. 9Estimating the health costs of climate change is important for informing health policy decisions. Evaluating health-associated costs using a common method and then aggregating the costs can allow us to compare the various effects of climate change-once normalized, to account for geographic and other differences-with regard to magnitude or importance. Case studies can also help us gauge the progress of climate change-related health preparedness policies over time under different adaptation scenarios. 9These scenarios present a range of possible regional climate effects, varying health vulnerabilities, and changing social and economic conditions that can help or hinder these policies' effectiveness.The objective of this study was to provide a cost calculation of health effects associated with events related to climate change over the past

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confidence: 99%

Six Climate Change–Related Events In The United States Accounted For About $14 Billion In Lost Lives And Health Costs

et al. 2011

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“…Hospitals also serve as official (or unofficial) centres of emergency management after a large-scale disaster (Platz et al, 2007;Sauer et al, 2009). Specifically, access to local hospitals was measured.…”

Section: Storm Surge Damage Metrics and Contingency Analyticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During major storms, hospital accessibility helps to decrease morbidity and mortality by making medical treatment available. Hospitals also serve as official (or unofficial) centres of emergency management after a large-scale disaster (Platz et al, 2007;Sauer et al, 2009). To that end, six storm scenarios were generated to examine accessibility by every Census block in Volusia County to area hospitals.…”

Section: Storm Surge Damage Metrics and Contingency Analyticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hurricane storm surge in Volusia County, Florida: evidence of a tipping point for infrastructure damage

Helderop

Grubesic

2018

Disasters

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Storm surge often is the most destructive consequence of hurricanes and tropical storms, causing significant economic damage and loss of life. Many coastal communities that are located in high-risk areas vis-à-vis hurricanes and tropical storms are prepared for moderate (between six and eight feet) storm surges. Such preparation, though, is not commensurate with more severe, but less frequent, storm surges (greater than eight feet). These gaps in preparedness have serious implications for community resilience. This paper explores elements of the vulnerability and resilience of coastal communities during major storm surge events, drawing on Volusia County, Florida, United States, as a case study. It simulates the impacts of five hurricanes (Categories I-V) and their associated storm surges on local infrastructure systems, populations, and access to resources. The results suggest that Volusia County is subject to a 'tipping point' , where surge damage from Category IV storms is significantly greater than that from Category III and lower hurricanes.

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“…Studies have shown increased health care utilization during power outages and, in particular, increased emergency department visits to obtain power for DME. 1-6 Previous studies have shown medically fragile individuals to be more likely to shelter in place and to be less prepared for disaster. 7,8 Upon mechanical device failure or when backup batteries fail, community-dwelling electricity-dependent individuals are likely to present to the emergency department, accounting for a large portion of avoidable admissions and potentially a large portion of power outage-associated morbidity and mortality.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7,8 Upon mechanical device failure or when backup batteries fail, community-dwelling electricity-dependent individuals are likely to present to the emergency department, accounting for a large portion of avoidable admissions and potentially a large portion of power outage-associated morbidity and mortality. 1-4,6 …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Who's at Risk When the Power Goes Out? The At-home Electricity-Dependent Population in the United States, 2012

Molinari

Chen

Krishna

et al. 2017

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

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Objectives Natural and man-made disasters can result in power outages that can affect certain vulnerable populations dependent on electrically powered durable medical equipment. This study estimated the size and prevalence of that electricity-dependent population residing at home in the United States. Methods We used the Truven Health MarketScan* 2012 database to estimate the number of employer-sponsored privately insured enrollees by geography, age group, and sex who resided at home and were dependent upon electrically powered durable medical equipment to sustain life. We estimated nationally representative prevalence and used US Census population estimates to extrapolate the national population and produce maps visualizing prevalence and distribution of electricity-dependent populations residing at home. Results As of 2012, among the 175 million persons covered by employer-sponsored private insurance, the estimated number of electricity-dependent persons residing at home was 366 619 (95% confidence interval: 365 700-367 537), with a national prevalence of 218.2 per 100 000 covered lives (95% confidence interval: 217.7-218.8). Prevalence varied significantly by age group (χ2 = 264 289 95, P < .0001) and region (χ2 = 12 286 30, P < .0001), with highest prevalence in those 65 years of age or older and in the South and the West. Across all insurance types in the United States, approximately 685 000 electricity-dependent persons resided at home. Conclusions These results may assist public health jurisdictions addressing unique needs and necessary resources for this particularly vulnerable population. Results can verify and enhance the development of functional needs registries, which are needed to help first responders target efforts to those most vulnerable during disasters affecting the power supply.

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The Impact of a Series of Hurricanes on the Visits to Two Central Florida Emergency Departments

Cited by 39 publications

References 16 publications

Six Climate Change–Related Events In The United States Accounted For About $14 Billion In Lost Lives And Health Costs

Six Climate Change–Related Events In The United States Accounted For About $14 Billion In Lost Lives And Health Costs

Hurricane storm surge in Volusia County, Florida: evidence of a tipping point for infrastructure damage

Who's at Risk When the Power Goes Out? The At-home Electricity-Dependent Population in the United States, 2012

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