Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Florida is vulnerable to pure disasters. A brand new one report signifies that many well being facilities there want backup energy capabilities to make sure that residents obtain wanted well being care companies throughout these crises.
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Hurricane Ian hit southwest Florida on Sept. 28, 2022, and brought about huge energy outages affecting 3.28 million residents. Virtually 150 individuals died, together with some who died after energy outages compromised their potential to make use of electricity-dependent medical tools. And weather-related energy outages elevated by 78 p.c from 2011-2021 (in comparison with 2000-2010).
The Florida Affiliation of Group Well being Facilities (FACHC) has partnered with the Clear Power Group to conduct a survey of the emergency backup energy capabilities of Florida’s 800-plus group well being facilities. FACHC goals to evaluate which well being facilities have emergency energy sources, consider the varieties of emergency energy at the moment utilized in well being facilities, and construct consciousness of accessible choices to extend power.
“We have to know that well being facilities have the power to function after an emergency like Hurricane Ian. That is the start line. We have to collect extra info and tie this analysis to the preparedness of emergency in all fields. What are the present capabilities of well being facilities in Florida, and what different assets are wanted in energy outage conditions?
– Sheila Zachow, director of public relations and communications at FACHC
FACHC carried out a survey that was shared with 50 well being facilities (representing over 800 websites), and obtained 32 responses. The survey outcomes confirmed that greater than 60 p.c of the well being facilities surveyed didn’t have a backup energy system in place, they usually cited price and lack of technical information as the most important boundaries to having one.
The report additionally exhibits that energy outages price Florida well being facilities a median of $41,000 per day in misplaced income. It discovered that 83 p.c of well being facilities surveyed retailer temperature-controlled vaccines on web site, however solely 40 p.c of amenities have backup energy to keep up cooling within the occasion of a breakdown.
The report features a techno-economic evaluation for the usage of photo voltaic power storage for emergency backup energy in seven of the well being facilities surveyed. FACHC will proceed to conduct assessments for well being facilities which have expressed an curiosity in pursuing renewable power alternatives.
FACHC will proceed to hunt assets to help well being facilities of their efforts to develop and set up backup energy techniques, Zachow mentioned.
“There may be extra work to be completed. We all know that there are a lot of well being facilities that have to arrange an emergency system. This lets us know that well being facilities are taking this problem of energy significantly. They’re on the lookout for assets, whether or not it is a completely different kind of energy backup or funding, they’re on the lookout for alternatives to verify their websites have backup energy techniques.
And it helps us discover the assets and capabilities that assist them do this. We hope that we will switch a better proportion of well being facilities to a spot the place they’ve an emergency backup system.
— Zachow
