Simulation-based Planning and Training Tool for Infectious Disease Outbreak, i.e., Pandemic Influenza

Medical experts and public health officials agree that the nation is overdue for an infectious disease outbreak, most probably of pandemic influenza. It is critical that medical treatment facility (MTF) personnel have the opportunity to practice developing and deploying plans prior to an actual pandemic. In this Phase II effort, SimQuest will develop a prototype for a strategic simulation-based game that will allow MTF administrators and supervisors to understand the causal relationships that strategic planning and tactical decision-making have on the spread of disease, thereby enabling them to respond quickly and effectively. The proposed Phase II work culminates in a prototype of a PC-based real-time strategy game that will (1) evaluate users’ ability to recognize early warning signs, (2) track their strategic planning and decision making when presented with actual events, and (3) allow practice of mitigation strategies at the local level, which will likely reduce the spread of disease in the event of pandemic influenza.