Anesoft Announces Bioterrorism Simulator.

Business Editors/Health, Medical, High-Tech Writers

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SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2002

Anesoft Corporation announces the completion of the Bioterrorism Simulator, the first software product of its kind to help prepare physicians, nurses, and other emergency personnel for the unthinkable: responding to a chemical or biological attack.

Release is set for early October, to coincide with annual meetings of the American Society of Anesthesiology and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

The program teaches proper management of patients involved in biological and chemical terrorism events including: early recognition of presenting signs and symptoms; diagnostic confirmation of the agents used; and prompt decontamination, isolation, and treatment. Communication instructions for patients, families, public health agencies, CDC, and the media are also included.

Using an interactive graphical simulator, users learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of 24 different clinical scenarios, including: anthrax, smallpox, botulism, plague, tularemia, Ebola, nerve agents and other toxic gases.

"We hope that the skills honed with the Bioterrorism Simulator are never put to the test, but feel it is necessary to be prepared," said Michael Negrin, president of Anesoft.

The Bioterrorism Simulator operates on any Windows computer, so it is easily accessible to health care professionals on their home or office computer. The clinician uses a menu to obtain a theoretical patient's history, conduct a physical exam, control the airway and ventilation, and administer fluids and medications. The patient's health improves or worsens depending on management. The on-line help system provides learning objectives, suggested management advice, and references including relevant web sites for each case. Since the program is Internet-enabled it can be kept up to date with the rapidly evolving recommendations concerning response to bioterrorism agents. Physicians can earn up to 12 Category 1 CME credits and nurses can earn 12 CNE credit hours using the Bioterrorism Simulator.

Howard Schwid, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Washington and the VA Puget Sound Health Care Service designed the Bioterrorism Simulator program, with contributions by a team with special expertise in this area.

Anesoft Corporation develops and distributes medical educational software designed to help health care professionals prepare for medical emergencies by rehearsing critical scenarios using computer simulation. The company delivers high-quality medical educational software that is easily affordable by physicians, nurses, and students. Titles include: Anesthesia Simulator, ACLS Simulator, Hemodynamics Simulator, Sedation Simulator, and Critical Care Simulator. Product sheets are available for each product. More information is available by calling 425-643-9388, or through the company's web site: www.anesoft.com.

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