Using “Mystery Patient” Drills to Assess Hospital Ebola Preparedness in New York City 2014-2015

The authors analyzed after-action reports to describe the effectiveness of mystery patient drills to test rapid identification and isolation of potential Ebola cases in emergency departments located in New York City. Several gaps emerged (e.g., ensuring timely screening, staff competency with personal protective equipment, and ensuring staff understand notification procedures and roles). Findings will be used to create a national mystery patient program.