NEW ORLEANS - East Jefferson General Hospital officials have inked a contract that will renew the terms of their information technology outsourcing agreement for an additional five years.

The contract renews services by Phoenix Health Systems Inc., a provider of healthcare information technology outsourcing solutions. It is the second extension of the hospitals original contract signed in 2003.

"The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has resulted in drastic changes in healthcare delivery for all New Orleans area hospitals," said Darin LeGrange, president and CEO, Phoenix Health Systems.

Less than a week after Hurricane Katrina, Phoenix' on-site IT outsourcing team had all major systems up and running at East Jefferson General hospital, allowing the staff to continue providing care to storm victims.

Under the renewed agreement, Phoenix will continue to staff and manage the hospital system's information services department, which includes providing IT strategic planning - including disaster and recovery planning and business continuity planning-project management, network management, desktop support and data center management.

East Jefferson General Hospital, located in Metairie, Louisiana, is a 450-bed not-for-profit community hospital, which serves residents of the East Bank of Jefferson Parish and surrounding communities in the New Orleans area.

"Phoenix understands the unique challenges facing East Jefferson since Hurricane Katrina and in our future plans for operational excellence," said Mark Peters, MD, CEO of East Jefferson General Hospital. "We are pleased to extend our IT outsourcing partnership with Phoenix Health System."