Above: eHealth Technologies CEO Jeff Markin
Rochester, N.Y.-based eHealth Technologies, Inc., a provider of medical record and image retrieval and clinical intelligence services, will invest $375,000 to establish a new customer support center in Scott County, Va. At a Thursday morning virtual press conference, the company said it will create 160 new jobs in the next five years.
The company assists clinical staff at hospitals with obtaining medical records, pathology materials and diagnostic imaging in order to decrease the time lag between a patient being referred and that patient being seen by a provider.
eHealth Technologies is still in the process of closing a deal to secure its facility in Scott County, but plans to move ahead quickly. CEO Jeff Markin said the company will begin hiring and training staff immediately, and that he hopes to have the first group of employees within the next three weeks. The initial group of hires will, “probably be in the 20 to 25 (employee) range, with two separate classes of team members that are going to be working in a couple of different areas of our work process.”
Mountain Empire Community College instructors will sit in on the first training sessions so they can learn exactly what the company needs from its employees and how the company trains employees to do their jobs. Dr. Kris Westover, president of Mountain Empire Community College said, “MECC has a successful track record of preparing the region’s workforce for careers in health information management, and we are proud to partner with eHealth Technologies on developing a well-trained workforce that will ensure the highest level of customer service and ultimately patient care.”
The recruitment of eHealth Technologies to southwest Virginia began 13 months ago when the Mirza Baig, founding partner of eHealth’s parent company, Aldrich Capital Partners was talking with InvestSWVA Director Will Payne at a meeting of the William & Mary Board of Visitors, on which both men sit. “He’s truly a great advocate on behalf of southwest Virginia,” Baig said of Payne at the Thursday morning announcement.
From that initial discussion, the effort to recruit eHealth to Scott County blossomed. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Scott County, InvestSWVA, Mountain Empire Community College, and the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a New Company Incentive Program grant of $626,500, which will be provided by the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund. In addition, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $94,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project, and eHealth Technologies is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development.
“Scott County and Southwest Virginia are committed to providing the infrastructure and workforce to ensure that tech companies like eHealth Technologies can succeed,” said Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “This great project is evidence of the growing trend of global businesses diversifying operations in lower-cost regions, and we are confident that eHealth Technologies will thrive in Southwest Virginia.”
“Scott County is ready to play a key role in eHealth Technologies’ strategic growth plan,” said Danny Mann, Chairman of the Scott County Board of Supervisors. “We appreciate being part of a team effort over the last year to attract eHealth Technologies to Southwest Virginia as it expands its operation and continues to deliver top-notch service to hospital systems across the country.”
“We are proud to welcome eHealth Technologies to our county and the region,” said Roger Fraysier, Chairman of the Scott County Economic Development Authority. “The company’s healthcare focus and patient-driven mission will be an asset to the region, and our workforce is ready to meet the demands of these well-paying jobs. Thanks to our partners who assisted us in making this expansion a reality.”
“I welcome the arrival of eHealth Technologies in Scott County,” said Congressman Morgan Griffith. “As a provider of medical record services to hospitals nationwide and in Virginia, eHealth Technologies will deliver new employment opportunities for our region’s workers. Its choice to locate in Scott County indicates the economic advantages our region offers.”
“eHealth Technologies’ decision to expand its operation to Southwest Virginia underscores the region’s strategic advantages and the strength of our workforce,” said Delegate Terry Kilgore, Chairman of the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. “We are proud to have worked along with InvestSWVA and Mountain Empire Community College to guide eHealth Technologies leadership over the last year to ensure they selected Scott County for this key expansion. This project demonstrates that Southwest Virginia is a location of choice for companies looking to diversify their operations.”
“eHealth Technologies has made a strategic decision to expand its worldwide operation in Southwest Virginia,” said Senator Todd Pillion. “Our workforce, particularly in health information management, is second to none. I am proud that our legislative delegation and InvestSWVA team took the lead in advising eHealth Technologies’ leadership to invest in our community and our people. The company’s mission and patient-driven work makes this announcement a proud moment for the region.”
