History of UVIS (The Unified Victim Identification System)
July 2nd, 20172001: Software is developed in response to Sept 11th and Flight 587 disasters, out of which UVIS evolves.
2004: The first version of UVIS is developed in anticipation of the NYC Republican National Convention in 2004. This version has only the Call Center and Missing Person’s modules.
2005: The Family Assistance Center Module is added to UVIS. OCME and NYPD gain full Ante Mortem–Missing Persons interview capabilities.
2007: Documentation of the full cycle of victim identification is completed with the addition of the Post Mortem module. OCME now has the ability to track victims from “Cradle to Grave”. A forensic dental identification program was developed with new charting code and a smart search engine.
2008: In preparing for a possible Pandemic Influenza (PI) outbreak in the NYC area, the PI module is developed based upon the OCME’s “PI Surge Plan to Manage Decedents”. All 63 heath care facilities are connected to UVIS.
2009: UVIS continues to be developed and expanded in close collaboration with various Medical Examiners’ and Coroners’ Offices throughout the country. OCME and other Medical Examiners/Coroners offices provide important feedback for the future development of UVIS. UVIS is currently undergoing a major enhancement that will create a medicolegal case management system that will be fully integrated with all disaster components, laboratory systems and external information sources.