A system for monitoring the status of a plurality of service package applications operating on a service node of a telecommunications network. A heartbeat message generating application is stored on the service node and includes a shared database that is accessible by at least two of the plurality of service package applications. A heartbeat message receiving application is stored on a service control point (SCP) that is in communication with the service node, the heartbeat message receiving application including a status database that includes records for monitoring the status of the at least two of the plurality of service package applications. The heartbeat message generating application generates a heartbeat message containing information retrieved from the shared database and sends the heartbeat message to the heartbeat message receiving application where the information is extracted and used to update the status database. Calls are routed to the service package applications based on the status stored in status database.