The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has launched an updated web-based software program that can provide emergency preparedness personnel with situational awareness information, updates in real time and shared information across state jurisdictions.

The web-based program, “Hippocrates,” originally developed in New Jersey in 2006 can now be used by multiple agencies across state boarders in order to share information during any emergency response.

“Public emergencies do not recognize state borders and it is important to share information in real-time to respond appropriately,” said Health and Senior Services Commissioner Poonam Alaigh, M.D. “The updated version of Hippocrates allowed New Jersey responders and our counterparts in New York City to share information in a seamless manner and allow for a more effective response.”

The updated version of Hippocrates was launched on June 18 and was used by emergency response staff in Jersey City and New York City to address potential health care issues during the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship over the Hudson River on June 19-20.

This effort marked the first time New York and New Jersey officials shared information happening in their particular areas in real-time during a response.

“As we have seen during many public health emergencies, the ability to have brokered information and knowledge management as a situation unfolds is vital to providing an appropriate and effective response,” said David Gruber, Senior Assistant Commissioner for DHSS’ Health Infrastructure Preparedness and Emergency Response. “Hippocrates has provided this ability to New Jersey and now has the capability to securely integrate an unlimited number of partner response agencies regardless of location or jurisdictional boundaries.”

Hippocrates comprises a number of features that allow responders to plan and respond to emergencies based on changing information and situations. Features include the ability to hold online conversations between staff, load images including photos and video, share information on medical facilities such as hospitals, long term care facilities and nursing homes and sophisticated mapping information. Hippocrates allows each jurisdiction to address incidents using their own resources and then share that information with the other jurisdiction on compatible software.

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