Introduction: As a hospital with high patient volume and staffing, Bellevue is particularly susceptible to higher transmission rates. Bellevue stands as one of the largest hospitals in the United States, with over 800 inpatient beds. Emergency room visits are, therefore, higher than in most other hospitals. Transmission potential is also amplified by the fact that New York City is the most populated city in the United States, often contributing to overcrowding in both public spaces and living environments. Its role as a transit hub and port of entry increases its risk of imported cases, and Bellevue’s location in Kips Bay, New York City, puts the hospital at a uniquely vulnerable position for receiving patients who may have been exposed. This combination makes Bellevue a critical frontline institution in the face of an infectious disease outbreak, and thus necessitates an actionable plan around a potential EVD outbreak.
This disaster plan contextualizes the dangers of the Ebola virus across the world and more so within a clinical healthcare setting. The authors look at the dynamic between hospital staff at Bellevue Hospital, members of the New York City Emergency Management, and the New York City government.