Through their joint venture, SimVentures, HealthStream, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSTM), a leading provider of learning and research solutions for the healthcare industry, and Laerdal Medical (?Laerdal?), a global leader in the provision of educational solutions for healthcare providers and educators, today announced the launch of SimCenter?. The increased focus on patient safety has stimulated a booming interest in healthcare training through simulation. SimCenter? is an innovative simulation management platform designed specifically for healthcare institutions to manage their simulation initiatives.

The ability of a healthcare professional to react both quickly and correctly in an unexpected situation is a critical factor in achieving a positive outcome for patients. The use of simulations allows a healthcare professional to practice critical lifesaving skills in a risk-free environment, and thereby improves provider efficacy and competence in actual patient care. While simulation techniques for learning are commonly used in healthcare educational institutions, they are now becoming more widely adopted in healthcare provider organizations.

According to a survey conducted by SimVentures of approximately 900 healthcare educators, approximately 80 percent of organizations that use advanced patient simulators manage the scheduling process manually through their calendar software (e.g. Outlook or Lotus Notes) or with an internally developed system. By automating the management of simulation initiatives, the SimCenter platform will provide significant improvements in efficiency over existing methods.

As a simulation management platform, SimCenter is comprised of a fully integrated system of software designed to work with advanced patient simulators, like Laerdal's SimMan 4G, SimMan, SimBaby, and SimNewB, and available through the Internet via software as a service (SaaS). SimCenter includes:

  • SimStore: Launched today, SimStore is an application which makes available simulation content from some of the healthcare industry's leading organizations. Beginning in April 2011, healthcare providers and educators will be able to sample and purchase simulation scenarios to use in their simulation training activities.
  • SimDeveloper: Launched today, SimDeveloper is an online software developer's toolkit for scenario developers to deploy their content to the SimStore.
  • SimManager: Coming later this year, SimManager is a management system that is customized for managing simulation-based training activities. Capabilities include making simulation training assignments, tracking training completions, managing scenario/content used in training, generating progress reports, scheduling of equipment and labs/rooms, and managing simulation curricula.
  • SimView: Coming later this year, SimView is an audio/video system that captures video of the simulation activities, simulator log files, and vital signs from the advanced patient simulators so that simulation instructors can debrief students on their educational experiences with simulation activities.

SimManager will be fully integrated with the HealthStream Learning Center? (HLC), which is the market leading learning management system among U.S. hospitals. Approximately 2,300 U.S. healthcare facilities utilize the HLC to deliver and track online training and education programs, and manage classroom-based educational activities for 2.36 million healthcare professionals. When launched, SimManager will give all healthcare providers a toolset to manage their simulation training activities and HealthStream's healthcare customers an opportunity to license a toolset that is fully integrated with their existing HealthStream Learning Center?.

Simulation content from developers will be available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, and Korean. To benefit customers, content bundle pricing will be available when multiple scenarios are purchased. In addition, content will be available for purchase either under annual or multi-year license agreements. As content is purchased, revenues will be generated by SimVentures and royalty fees earned by developers.

Tor Morten Osmundsen, chief executive officer of Laerdal Medical commented, ?Since the launch of our patient simulator, SimMan, we have seen the adoption of simulation training in healthcare rise sharply. As healthcare organizations and educational institutions face the challenges of training an ever growing number of professionals and healthcare students, we believe SimCenter will support them to deliver consistently high quality and relevant training more efficiently and effectively than ever before.?

For more information about SimCenter, you may contact HealthStream at 800-933-929 or Laerdal Medical at 845-297-7770.

About HealthStream

HealthStream (NASDAQ: HSTM) is a leading provider of learning and research solutions for the healthcare industry, transforming insight into action to deliver outcomes-based results for healthcare organizations. Through HealthStream's learning solutions?which have been contracted by approximately 2.36 million hospital-based healthcare professionals?healthcare organizations create safer environments for patients, increase clinical competencies of their workforces, and facilitate the rapid transfer of the latest knowledge and technologies. Through our research products, executives from healthcare organizations gain valuable insight about patients' experiences, workforce challenges, physician relations, and community perceptions of their services. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, HealthStream has two satellite offices. For more information about HealthStream's learning and research solutions, visit www.healthstream.com or call us at 800-933-9293.

About Laerdal Medical

Laerdal Medical, one of the world's leading providers of Healthcare Solutions, is dedicated to helping save lives with products and services for Simulation, Airway Management, Immobilization, Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, Patient Care, Self-Directed Learning, and Medical Education. Laerdal is pleased to serve all healthcare providers and educators, from the lay rescuer to the medical professionals. Laerdal operates sales and support offices in 23 countries worldwide, and with the head office located in Stavanger, Norway. For more information, visit www.laerdal.com or call 877-523-7325.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties regarding HealthStream. Investors are cautioned that such results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. This information has been, or in the future may be, included in reliance on the ?safe harbor? provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. The Company's preliminary financial results, while presented with numerical specificity, are forward-looking statements which are based on a variety of assumptions regarding the Company's operating performance that may not be realized, and which are subject to significant uncertainties and potential contingencies associated with the Company's financial and accounting procedures and other matters referenced from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consequently, such forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation or warranty by the Company that such projections will be realized.

HealthStream, Inc.
Mollie Condra, 615-301-3237
Associate Vice President, Communications, Research, & Investor Relations
Mollie.condra@healthstream.com
or
Laerdal Medical
Jan Holm, +47 90641133
Corporate Director, Marketing Communication & Branding
Jan.holm@laerdal.no