MASA Group Presents its SWORD Hospital Simulated Exercise System at the 2013 Texas Hospitals Association Conference & Expo

Preparedness exercises using MASA SWORD simulation software enable hospital organizations to cost-efficiently anticipate emergencies – SWORD aids hospital and local health departments meet and maintain HPP and PHEP grant capabilities

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MASA Group (“MASA”), a leading developer of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Modeling & Simulation (M&S) software for the defense, emergency preparedness, healthcare, serious games and game development markets, announces that it will showcase MASA SWORD, its hospital simulated exercise system, during the 2013 THA (Texas Hospital Association) Annual Conference and Expo taking place on February 13 and 14 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX.

“In a time of decreasing preparedness funding and increasing healthcare expenses, long-term sustainability is important. By validating preparedness plans and improving response coordination to reduce emergency consequences, SWORD can provide all hospitals with a long-term sustainable resource and added value.”

SWORD is a COTS automated, aggregated, constructive simulation software designed to help users develop and deploy advanced and highly realistic scenarios, in particular for the training of decision-makers in command posts and crisis centers, and for the analysis of military doctrines and emergency procedures.

In the healthcare sector, SWORD can be used as a powerful simulation software providing tools for efficient mitigation and preparedness planning to achieve effective response and recovery evaluation. During the event, MASA will highlight how states and communities can, today, use SWORD in order to more easily, effectively and cost-efficiently conduct joint planning, exercises, and program operations in the framework of the aligned HPP and PHEP cooperative agreements programs.

Administered by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) funding supports preparedness for healthcare systems, healthcare coalitions, and healthcare organizations. HHS’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) administer the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) funding to support the preparedness of state, local, and territorial public health systems.

Using SWORD, HPP and PHEP grant recipients can meet and maintain the Healthcare Preparedness Capabilities and the Public Health Preparedness Capabilities which are to be vetted as part of the new joint grant allocation process.

Joe Shelton ([e-mail]), in charge of Medical and Hospital Preparedness at MASA Group Inc., stated: “In a time of decreasing preparedness funding and increasing healthcare expenses, long-term sustainability is important. By validating preparedness plans and improving response coordination to reduce emergency consequences, SWORD can provide all hospitals with a long-term sustainable resource and added value.”

About MASA Group (www.masagroup.net)

MASA Group (“MASA”) is a global company focused on the development of Artificial Intelligence-based Modeling & Simulation (M&S) software for the defense, emergency preparedness, healthcare, serious games and game development markets. A trusted developer of cutting-edge AI technology for over fifteen years, MASA has founded its success on products that combine scalability, adaptability and low cost of ownership, with a strong standards-driven approach to technology. MASA Group is headquartered in France with offices in the USA and in Germany, and a worldwide network of value added resellers.