RESTON, Va., Oct. 9, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The U.S. Department of Defense began full-rate deployment in the U. S. Army of a Web-based health-information system, designed and developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), to enhance occupational health care services and reduce health threats to military and civilian personnel.
The Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System-Industrial Hygiene (DOEHRS-IH) was created to support the collection, storage and analysis of information regarding occupational exposures, workplace environmental monitoring, personal protective equipment usage, work practices and employee health-hazard educational data.
In the field, industrial hygienists, environmental-health professionals and operational commanders can use a personal computer tablet, which has the same look and feel as the web-based system, to collect data in a disconnected mode. DOEHRS-IH Mobile also features a synchronization capability so data can be exchanged when Internet connectivity is available.
DOEHRS supports the Force Health Protection Program mandated by the President in 1997. DOEHRS is a tri-service program and is managed by the Resources Information Technology Program Office (RITPO). RITPO is part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.
Fielding is now underway at the Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (CHPPM), Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md.; Fort Meade, Md.; Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; and Fort Belvoir, Va. Training was conducted last week. DOEHRS became operational at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, and Fort Lewis, Wash., earlier this year.
DOEHRS is scheduled to be deployed at all Army bases by mid-2007. Full-rate deployment for DOEHRS in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force is scheduled to begin in the 2007 timeframe.
Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector began work on DOEHRS-IH in 2002. In July, RITPO awarded Northrop Grumman the first option of a contract to commence worldwide deployment of DOEHRS within the Army.
Dr. William Winkenwerder, Jr., Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, authorized full-rate deployment in the Army in June and granted Milestone C approval in August 2005.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 120,000 employees and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.