The University of Iowa just added a new medical teaching tool — with apulse. It’s called an “anesthesia patient simulator” and it will helpresidents in the hospital get some hands-on training. Dr. Ann Perino(puh-REE’-noh) is the director of the simulator program. The simulator is alife-size mannequin that is programmed by computer software to createreal-life situations. Until now, anesthesia students have learned bywatching, reading, and from class lectures. Perino says those methods arenot as effective.The simulator cost the university 225-thousand dollars and is one of only 20in the U-S. Perino says students and practicing anesthesiologists willbenefit from the simulator, but patients’ peace of mind is the bottom line.University of Iowa Health Care — the new name for University Hospitals andClinics — plans on aquiring an infant-sized simulator for pediatricanesthesia training.