In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, join host Jill Morgan and special guests Syra Madad, Darrell Ruby, and Tim Scholten for a practical, nationwide look at drills and exercises in special pathogen preparedness. The group breaks down the difference between drills and exercises, shares real-world stories from hospitals across the U.S., and offers advice on implementing effective, HSEEP-compliant training—even with limited resources. Whether you're new to emergency management or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with actionable tips on building readiness, meeting regulatory requirements, and ensuring the safety of both staff and patients. Don’t miss the inside scoop on "mystery patient drills," the importance of flexibility, and how to turn every simulation into real-world improvement.

Questions or comments for NETEC? Contact us at [email protected].

Visit Transmission Interrupted on the web at netec.org/podcast.

Host

Jill Morgan, RN

Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA

Jill Morgan is a registered nurse and a subject matter expert in personal protective equipment (PPE) for NETEC. For 35 years, Jill has been an emergency department and critical care nurse, and now splits her time between education for NETEC and clinical research, most of it centering around infection prevention and personal protective equipment. She is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), ASTM International, and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

Guests

Syra Madad, DHSc, MSc, MCP

Chief Biopreparedness Officer

NYC Health + Hospitals

Darrell Ruby, CEM, CHEC, NEMAA

Regional Coordinator

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital

Tim Scholten, MHA, BSN, RN, NE-BC

RESPTC Program Manager

Corewell Health

Resources

CDC: Notes from the Field: Response to a Case of Travel-Associated Lassa Fever — Iowa, October–November 2024

FEMA: Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program

NETEC: Special Pathogen Mystery Drill Toolkit Drill, Functional & Full-Scale Template

NETEC: Special Pathogen Readiness Tracer

NETEC: Joint Commission Standards for High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) Infection Control Resources

NETEC Exercise Templates

NETEC Resource Library

NETEC website: NETEC.org

Transmission Interrupted: netec.org/podcast

About NETEC

A Partnership for Preparedness

The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center’s mission is to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response across health systems in the U.S. with the goals of driving best practices, closing knowledge gaps, and developing innovative resources.

Our vision is a sustainable infrastructure and culture of readiness for managing suspected and confirmed special pathogen incidents across the United States public health and health care delivery systems.

For more information visit NETEC on the web at www.netec.org.

NETEC Consultation Services

Assess and Advance Your Readiness for Special Pathogens with Free, Expert Consulting.

NETEC offers free virtual and onsite readiness consulting to help health care facilities and EMS agencies prepare for special pathogen events. Our targeted support services are delivered by experts selected and assigned to each inquiry based on the unique needs of your organization. Have a question? Ask a NETEC expert.

For more information visit: netec.org/consulting-services.