About the HAN

The Chicago Health Alert Network (HAN) provides the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) with the capacity for quick, efficient, reliable, and secure web-based communication with CDPH staff, providers of medical care, laboratories, first responders and other local public health agencies. The HAN facilitates CDPH’s day-to-day activities, including outbreak detection, investigation, and emergency response. The HAN is entirely owned and controlled by CDPH, including the source code and intellectual property. This gives CDPH the ability to rapidly change/modify, enhance, move or even sell parts of the HAN.

When a public health emergency (e.g., large food borne outbreak or bioterrorism attack) occurs, CDPH must quickly inform and communicate with CDPH staff, medical providers and public health agencies. The HAN has the capacity to alert the medical and public health community of such urgent or emergency events in a quick and efficient manner, as well as mobilize staff to effect a rapid response.