Hospitals Reported Improved Preparedness for Emerging Infectious Diseases After the Ebola Outbreak

The Office of Inspector General conducted a nationwide, online survey of 368 hospitals followed by 40 interviews to determine whether actions taken to respond to the Ebola outbreak improved their preparedness for emerging infectious diseases. They found that 86% of hospitals reported they were prepared to receive an emerging infectious disease patient compared to only 29% in 2014. However, hospitals also reported challenges in sustaining their preparedness over time and balancing the need to prepare for emerging infectious diseases with other hazards.