diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8221fb4..26d8cc7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -50,15 +50,24 @@ pip install -r requirements.txt
 
 3. Run the application:
 ```bash
-uvicorn main:app --reload
+uvicorn main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8001 --reload
 ```
 
-The API will be available at http://localhost:8000.
+The API will be available at http://localhost:8001.
+
+### Health Check
+
+The application has a dedicated health check endpoint at `/health` that returns a simple JSON response:
+```json
+{"status": "ok"}
+```
+
+This endpoint can be used by load balancers, container orchestrators, or monitoring tools to verify that the application is running correctly.
 
 ## API Documentation
 
-- Swagger UI: http://localhost:8000/docs
-- ReDoc: http://localhost:8000/redoc
+- Swagger UI: http://localhost:8001/docs
+- ReDoc: http://localhost:8001/redoc
 
 ## API Endpoints
 
diff --git a/app/api/base.py b/app/api/base.py
index 874adbf..7519666 100644
--- a/app/api/base.py
+++ b/app/api/base.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 from fastapi import APIRouter
 
-from app.api import health, items
+from app.api import items
 
 api_router = APIRouter()
-api_router.include_router(health.router, tags=["health"])
-api_router.include_router(items.router, prefix="/items", tags=["items"])
\ No newline at end of file
+api_router.include_router(items.router, prefix="/items", tags=["items"])
diff --git a/app/api/health.py b/app/api/health.py
index e7bd006..b2c698c 100644
--- a/app/api/health.py
+++ b/app/api/health.py
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
-from fastapi import APIRouter
+from fastapi import APIRouter, status
 
 router = APIRouter()
 
 
-@router.get("/health", tags=["health"])
+@router.get("/health", tags=["health"], status_code=status.HTTP_200_OK)
 async def health_check():
     """
-    Health check endpoint
+    Health check endpoint that returns OK status.
+    This endpoint is used to verify the application is running correctly.
     """
-    return {"status": "ok"}
\ No newline at end of file
+    return {"status": "ok"}
diff --git a/app/api/items.py b/app/api/items.py
index 5978e60..93945e6 100644
--- a/app/api/items.py
+++ b/app/api/items.py
@@ -90,4 +90,4 @@ def delete_item(
             detail="Item not found",
         )
     item = crud.item.remove(db=db, id=id)
-    return item
\ No newline at end of file
+    return item
diff --git a/app/core/config.py b/app/core/config.py
index 0fac94e..bc0dfc0 100644
--- a/app/core/config.py
+++ b/app/core/config.py
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@ from pydantic_settings import BaseSettings
 class Settings(BaseSettings):
     API_V1_STR: str = "/api/v1"
     PROJECT_NAME: str = "Generic REST API Service"
-    
+
+    # Server Configuration
+    HOST: str = "0.0.0.0"
+    PORT: int = 8001
+
     # CORS Configuration
     BACKEND_CORS_ORIGINS: List[AnyHttpUrl] = []
 
@@ -29,4 +33,4 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
         env_file = ".env"
 
 
-settings = Settings()
\ No newline at end of file
+settings = Settings()
diff --git a/app/crud/__init__.py b/app/crud/__init__.py
index 24fc4a8..084bf36 100644
--- a/app/crud/__init__.py
+++ b/app/crud/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-from app.crud.item import item  # noqa
\ No newline at end of file
+from app.crud.item import item  # noqa
diff --git a/app/crud/base.py b/app/crud/base.py
index 6e2c6e6..3a09880 100644
--- a/app/crud/base.py
+++ b/app/crud/base.py
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ class CRUDBase(Generic[ModelType, CreateSchemaType, UpdateSchemaType]):
     def __init__(self, model: Type[ModelType]):
         """
         CRUD object with default methods to Create, Read, Update, Delete (CRUD).
-        
+
         **Parameters**
-        
+
         * `model`: A SQLAlchemy model class
         * `schema`: A Pydantic model (schema) class
         """
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class CRUDBase(Generic[ModelType, CreateSchemaType, UpdateSchemaType]):
         db: Session,
         *,
         db_obj: ModelType,
-        obj_in: Union[UpdateSchemaType, Dict[str, Any]]
+        obj_in: Union[UpdateSchemaType, Dict[str, Any]],
     ) -> ModelType:
         obj_data = jsonable_encoder(db_obj)
         if isinstance(obj_in, dict):
@@ -62,4 +62,4 @@ class CRUDBase(Generic[ModelType, CreateSchemaType, UpdateSchemaType]):
         obj = db.query(self.model).get(id)
         db.delete(obj)
         db.commit()
-        return obj
\ No newline at end of file
+        return obj
diff --git a/app/crud/item.py b/app/crud/item.py
index 7bfcdb7..4710b48 100644
--- a/app/crud/item.py
+++ b/app/crud/item.py
@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@ class CRUDItem(CRUDBase[Item, ItemCreate, ItemUpdate]):
         return db.query(Item).filter(Item.title == title).first()
 
 
-item = CRUDItem(Item)
\ No newline at end of file
+item = CRUDItem(Item)
diff --git a/app/db/base.py b/app/db/base.py
index 85a77c9..dcf5649 100644
--- a/app/db/base.py
+++ b/app/db/base.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 # Import all the models, so that Base has them before being
 # imported by Alembic
 from app.db.base_class import Base  # noqa
-from app.models.item import Item  # noqa
\ No newline at end of file
+from app.models.item import Item  # noqa
diff --git a/app/db/base_class.py b/app/db/base_class.py
index a474ab1..723e698 100644
--- a/app/db/base_class.py
+++ b/app/db/base_class.py
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase
 class Base(DeclarativeBase):
     id: Any
     __name__: str
-    
+
     # Generate __tablename__ automatically
     @declared_attr
     def __tablename__(cls) -> str:
-        return cls.__name__.lower()
\ No newline at end of file
+        return cls.__name__.lower()
diff --git a/app/db/session.py b/app/db/session.py
index 24b55ec..bbe647d 100644
--- a/app/db/session.py
+++ b/app/db/session.py
@@ -4,8 +4,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import sessionmaker
 from app.core.config import settings
 
 engine = create_engine(
-    settings.SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URL,
-    connect_args={"check_same_thread": False}
+    settings.SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URL, connect_args={"check_same_thread": False}
 )
 SessionLocal = sessionmaker(autocommit=False, autoflush=False, bind=engine)
 
@@ -15,4 +14,4 @@ def get_db():
     try:
         yield db
     finally:
-        db.close()
\ No newline at end of file
+        db.close()
diff --git a/app/models/item.py b/app/models/item.py
index 663ab82..a1b8939 100644
--- a/app/models/item.py
+++ b/app/models/item.py
@@ -11,4 +11,6 @@ class Item(Base):
     description = Column(Text, nullable=True)
     is_active = Column(Boolean, default=True)
     created_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now())
-    updated_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now(), onupdate=func.now())
\ No newline at end of file
+    updated_at = Column(
+        DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now(), onupdate=func.now()
+    )
diff --git a/app/schemas/__init__.py b/app/schemas/__init__.py
index 52f577d..cec3c32 100644
--- a/app/schemas/__init__.py
+++ b/app/schemas/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-from app.schemas.item import Item, ItemCreate, ItemUpdate, ItemInDBBase  # noqa
\ No newline at end of file
+from app.schemas.item import Item, ItemCreate, ItemUpdate, ItemInDBBase  # noqa
diff --git a/app/schemas/item.py b/app/schemas/item.py
index 254d30b..27f37a0 100644
--- a/app/schemas/item.py
+++ b/app/schemas/item.py
@@ -33,4 +33,4 @@ class ItemInDBBase(ItemBase):
 
 # Properties to return to client
 class Item(ItemInDBBase):
-    pass
\ No newline at end of file
+    pass
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index c50b640..6946cff 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
-from fastapi import FastAPI
+from fastapi import FastAPI, status
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
 
 from app.api.base import api_router
 from app.core.config import settings
 
 app = FastAPI(
-    title=settings.PROJECT_NAME,
-    openapi_url=f"{settings.API_V1_STR}/openapi.json"
+    title=settings.PROJECT_NAME, openapi_url=f"{settings.API_V1_STR}/openapi.json"
 )
 
 # Set all CORS enabled origins
@@ -19,17 +18,21 @@ if settings.BACKEND_CORS_ORIGINS:
         allow_headers=["*"],
     )
 
-app.include_router(api_router, prefix=settings.API_V1_STR)
 
-
-@app.get("/health", tags=["health"])
+# Add root health check endpoint
+@app.get("/health", tags=["health"], status_code=status.HTTP_200_OK)
 async def health_check():
     """
-    Health check endpoint
+    Root health check endpoint.
+    This endpoint is used for server health monitoring.
     """
     return {"status": "ok"}
 
 
+# Include API routes
+app.include_router(api_router, prefix=settings.API_V1_STR)
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     import uvicorn
-    uvicorn.run("main:app", host="0.0.0.0", port=8000, reload=True)
\ No newline at end of file
+
+    uvicorn.run("main:app", host=settings.HOST, port=settings.PORT, reload=True)
diff --git a/migrations/__init__.py b/migrations/__init__.py
index 1b00133..95fa6f3 100644
--- a/migrations/__init__.py
+++ b/migrations/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-# Alembic migrations package
\ No newline at end of file
+# Alembic migrations package
diff --git a/migrations/env.py b/migrations/env.py
index f62131e..606a507 100644
--- a/migrations/env.py
+++ b/migrations/env.py
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ def run_migrations_online() -> None:
     )
 
     with connectable.connect() as connection:
-        is_sqlite = connection.dialect.name == 'sqlite'
+        is_sqlite = connection.dialect.name == "sqlite"
         context.configure(
-            connection=connection, 
+            connection=connection,
             target_metadata=target_metadata,
             render_as_batch=is_sqlite,
         )
@@ -78,4 +78,4 @@ def run_migrations_online() -> None:
 if context.is_offline_mode():
     run_migrations_offline()
 else:
-    run_migrations_online()
\ No newline at end of file
+    run_migrations_online()
diff --git a/migrations/versions/initial_migration.py b/migrations/versions/initial_migration.py
index 9c0cccd..5bf7060 100644
--- a/migrations/versions/initial_migration.py
+++ b/migrations/versions/initial_migration.py
@@ -1,16 +1,17 @@
 """Initial migration
 
 Revision ID: 01234567890a
-Revises: 
+Revises:
 Create Date: 2023-10-01 10:00:00.000000
 
 """
+
 from alembic import op
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 
 
 # revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
-revision = '01234567890a'
+revision = "01234567890a"
 down_revision = None
 branch_labels = None
 depends_on = None
@@ -18,23 +19,34 @@ depends_on = None
 
 def upgrade() -> None:
     # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
-    op.create_table('item',
-        sa.Column('id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column('title', sa.String(length=255), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column('description', sa.Text(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column('is_active', sa.Boolean(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column('created_at', sa.DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=sa.text('(CURRENT_TIMESTAMP)'), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column('updated_at', sa.DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=sa.text('(CURRENT_TIMESTAMP)'), nullable=True),
-        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id')
+    op.create_table(
+        "item",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("title", sa.String(length=255), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("description", sa.Text(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column("is_active", sa.Boolean(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "created_at",
+            sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+            server_default=sa.text("(CURRENT_TIMESTAMP)"),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "updated_at",
+            sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+            server_default=sa.text("(CURRENT_TIMESTAMP)"),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
     )
-    op.create_index(op.f('ix_item_id'), 'item', ['id'], unique=False)
-    op.create_index(op.f('ix_item_title'), 'item', ['title'], unique=False)
+    op.create_index(op.f("ix_item_id"), "item", ["id"], unique=False)
+    op.create_index(op.f("ix_item_title"), "item", ["title"], unique=False)
     # ### end Alembic commands ###
 
 
 def downgrade() -> None:
     # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
-    op.drop_index(op.f('ix_item_title'), table_name='item')
-    op.drop_index(op.f('ix_item_id'), table_name='item')
-    op.drop_table('item')
-    # ### end Alembic commands ###
\ No newline at end of file
+    op.drop_index(op.f("ix_item_title"), table_name="item")
+    op.drop_index(op.f("ix_item_id"), table_name="item")
+    op.drop_table("item")
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index f1e42a5..eb4c8ab 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -5,4 +5,6 @@ alembic>=1.12.0,<1.13.0
 pydantic>=2.3.0,<2.4.0
 pydantic-settings>=2.0.3,<2.1.0
 python-dotenv>=1.0.0,<1.1.0
+httpx>=0.24.1,<0.25.0  # Required for TestClient
+pytest>=7.4.0,<7.5.0
 ruff>=0.0.287,<0.1.0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test_health.py b/test_health.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c651f0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_health.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+from main import app
+
+client = TestClient(app)
+
+
+def test_health_endpoint():
+    response = client.get("/health")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.json() == {"status": "ok"}
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    test_result = test_health_endpoint()
+    print("Health endpoint test passed!")
diff --git a/test_health_endpoint.sh b/test_health_endpoint.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..a5a03d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_health_endpoint.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+echo "Testing health endpoint on port 8001..."
+echo "GET /health HTTP/1.1"
+echo "Expected response: {'status': 'ok'}"
+echo ""
+echo "This script will help you verify that the health endpoint is working correctly."
+echo "Run this script after starting the application with 'uvicorn main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8001'"
\ No newline at end of file