Climate change, communication and patient care – Using MOC IV requirement to integrate climate counseling in patient care

Presentation Notes

Presented at: 2026 STFM Annual Spring Conference; May 6, 2025; Salt Lake City, UT.

Abstract

Climate change affects all of society, disproportionately impacting systemically marginalized and vulnerable communities, thereby exacerbating health inequities. Family physicians (FPs) are uniquely positioned to address the climate crisis by advocating for communities and integrating climate-related health counseling into their direct patient care or learner supervision. Our residency combined the need for residents and faculty to meet existing Maintenance of Certification (MOC) IV requirements with FPs’ unique position to implement an MOC IV project aimed at increasing climate health counseling during hospital and clinic-based patient interactions. We utilized our “Climate +1 strategy” as the education arm of the MOC. This strategy allows climate content to be integrated into established educational structures (curricula, programs, lectures, faculty development). A twice monthly 2-minute survey of residents and faculty was used to track self-reported counseling rates relative to number of patients seen and topics discussed. Residents and faculty increased their climate health counseling by 2.3% in four months along with increased faculty discussions with residents during staffing. Air quality (64%) and heat (63%) were the most common climate exposures discussed with patients. Our MOC approach effectively integrated climate health counseling into routine care; enhanced equitable patient care; and empowers FPs to advocate for the well-being of our communities and planet.

Type

Oral/Podium Presentation


 

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