Climate Pollution, Heat Stress and Birth Outcomes

Target Audience

Physicians, advanced practice providers, obstetrians, OB/Gyns, pediatricians, nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and all other interested healthcare professionals.

Learning Objectives

  • Give examples of adverse pregnancy outcomes that are associated with increased pollution exposure and heat stress.
  • Discuss the times during pregnancy in which patients are most vulnerable to the effects of heat stress.
  • Identify areas in Miami-Dade County where pregnant patients are at increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes associated with heat stress. 
  • Recommend appropriate strategies to patients to decrease their risk for heat illness during pregnancy.
  • Integrate education on climate health impacts into routine patient encounters.
Additional information
Bibliography: 
  • Giudice, LC, Llamas-Clark, EF, DeNicola, N, et al.  Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2021; 155: 345– 356.
  • Bekkar, B., Pacheco, S., Basu, R., & DeNicola, N. (2020). Association of air pollution and heat exposure with preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth in the US: a systematic review. JAMA network open, 3(6), e208243-e208243.  
  • Li . Hot tub use during pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage. Am J Epidemiol. 2003;158(10):931-937
  • He. Heat and pregnancy-related emergencies: risk of placental abruption during hot weather. Environ Int. 2018;111:295-300
Course Summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 General certificate of attendance
  • 1.00 Nurse Practitioners
  • 1.00 Florida Board of Nursing
  • 1.00 Florida Board of Pharmacy
Course opens: 
03/01/2023
Course expires: 
02/28/2025
Part of: 
Miami-Dade Heat Task Force and Florida Clinicians for Climate Action e-Learning Series

Viviana Alvarado Pacheco, M.A. (Contributor)
Senior Research Associate and Operations Manager
The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade
Miami, Florida

Bruce Bekkar, M.D. 
Climate for Health Fellow,  Leadership Circle Executive  Committee, ecoAmerica
Editorial Board member, Journal of Climate Change and Health Chair Emeritus, Public Health Public Health Advisory Council, Climate Action Campaign
Del Mar, California

Catherine Toms, M.D., MPH
Director, Green Cars for Kids
Senior Advisor for Climate and Health, Health Care Without Harm
Florida Clinicians for Climate Action, Steering Committee
Miami, Florida
                
Viviana Alvarado Pacheco, M.A., Bruce Bekkar, M.D., and Catherine Toms, M.D., MPH, faculty for this educational activity, have no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies* to disclose and have indicated that the presentation or discussion will not include off-label or unapproved product usage.

Non-faculty contributors and others involved in the planning, development and editing/review of the content have no relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies*.  

*Ineligible companies – Companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Disclosure Policy and Disclaimer

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essentials and Standards of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Baptist Health South Florida and Florida Physicians for Climate Action (FCCA).

Baptist Health South Florida is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Baptist Health has been re-surveyed by the ACCME and awarded Commendation for 6 years as a provider of CME for physicians.
              
Baptist Health South Florida designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 General certificate of attendance
  • 1.00 Nurse Practitioners
  • 1.00 Florida Board of Nursing
  • 1.00 Florida Board of Pharmacy
Please login or register for a Baptist Health CME account to take this course.

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