Irish healthcare communications company RelateCare is to create 255 jobs in Arkansas over the next three years to support back-office functions for hospitals and healthcare facilities clients in the US.
The Waterford-headquartered company began as a joint venture Rigneydolphin and leading US healthcare institution Cleveland Clinic in 2014 and already employs 100 staff in Arkansas, primarily in the Little Rock area.
Conor O'Byrne, CEO of RelateCare, said the company had seen "rapid growth" in the past two years, with its administrative and clinical solutions being taken up by a wider range of healthcare systems in the US.
“We’re delighted to widen our US operations here in Sherwood, Arkansas during a very exciting time of customer expansion for our company," O'Byrne continued.
"Our goal is to provide a flexible working model that affords our employees great opportunities to progress and upskill to support our dynamic business.
In Association with
"As a homegrown Irish organisation increasingly focused on growing in the US, we now have a really strong platform to continue to drive solutions and create value for our healthcare clients here.”
RelateCare provides patient access and engagement solutions for healthcare providers through its technology platform, with more than 20m appointments scheduled through the company each year.
The Arkusus Group-owned firm employs more than 1,400 in Ireland and the US, including 500 hired in the past year. Client include Cleveland Clinic, Stanford Children’s Health, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Duke Health and the HSE.
Accounts for Askusus Holdings Ltd for 2021 show turnover of €34.2m, up from €20m the previous year, and pre-tax losses of €2.9m, with net liabilities of €6.2m.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as White House Press Secretary during the Trump administration, said RelateCare is helping the state to build the economy to "take Arkansas to the top" with this investment.
“I thank the RelateCare team for choosing our state and look forward to working with them to pursue policies that make Arkansas an even more favourable candidate for business expansion," she added.
RelateCare's Sherwood hub will provide remote clinical support services, post-discharge management services, and telehealth and patient appointment scheduling services.
The company plans to hire new management executives, support staff members, and access-to-care staff members.
“I would like to welcome RelateCare to the city of Sherwood,” said Sherwood Mayor Mary Jo Heye-Townsell. "The infusion of new jobs will bring in more money to our local economy, stimulate business growth and create a positive ripple effect for years to come.”
In April 2022, Relatecare Services Ltd received €1 million taxpayer funding from Enterprise Ireland, presumably to generate employment in Ireland.
