December 16, 2025
UW-led research finds virtual care surges during 2025 Los Angeles wildfires
In January 2025, wildfires spread from the foothills into urban Los Angeles, causing evacuations and severe air pollution. New research from the University of Washington and Kaiser Permanente Southern California, published in JAMA Health Forum, analyzed health records of 3.7 million members to assess health impacts and care patterns.
The study found significant increases in health care utilization, especially virtual visits, during the first week of the fires. Injury and neuropsychiatric visits also rose sharply. Proximity to burn zones correlated with higher utilization.
Researchers concluded that virtual care played a critical role in meeting health needs during the disaster and emphasized the need for health systems to prioritize telehealth capacity for future climate-related emergencies.