Fazzi Healthcare creates 300 jobs for Limerick

Limerick has received another jobs boost with confirmation that US-based Fazzi Healthcare Services is to establish a new coding and healthcare services company in the city, creating 300 jobs over five years.

Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor confirmed the announcement just 24 hours after another €500m investment programme with the potential for more than 5,000 jobs had been unveiled in Limerick.

She said she was very keen to pursue opportunities for investment and job creation in new sectors.

“These are increasingly possible with our infrastructure and talented workforce which enables companies like Fazzi to undertake work for customers in different parts of the world,” she said.

“It is also very heartening that such a large project has been secured for a regional centre which represents the ongoing success of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs initiative, particularly the new Regional Action Plan for the Mid West.”

Medical coding is a regulated process that transforms healthcare diagnoses, treatments, procedures, outcomes and services into universal medical alphanumeric codes, known as ICD.

Most countries, including Ireland, use the ICD process with the majority using the current ICD-10 edition.

This latest edition contains codes for diseases, signs and symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, and external causes of injury or disease.

The new Irish company has already begun providing ICD-10 coding services to the US homecare and hospice sector. Additionally, expansion plans are in the works to add billing and distance learning offerings for International-based insurance companies and governmental healthcare entities.

Speaking about the latest jobs boost for Limerick, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said the city was proud to host an innovative company that combines healthcare and software.

“There will be many more opportunities now to join this company which places great value in its employees,” said Mr Noonan. “I’m sure that many people from Limerick will become valuable members of the team at Fazzi.”

The company’s founder and managing partner, Robert Fazzi said: “Our Irish employees are clearly smart, dedicated and incredibly talented.

“We are thankful to the IDA and the Irish government for welcoming us and helping us develop our business here. Without question, Ireland has proven strongly supportive to the creation of innovative and growth-oriented companies.”

Mayor of Limerick Kieran O’Hanlon said that Fazzi’s announcement further strengthens Limerick’s plans to be a location of choice for foreign direct investment.