Clinch Valley Health Leaders Joined the VHHA in Richmond to Advocate for Hospital Priority Issues

Lifepoint Health leaders joined the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association in Richmond to meet with lawmakers and to advocate for hospital priority issues. 

Clinch Valley Health CEO Peter Mulkey and Assistant Administrator Sherpri Giles Small joined the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association along with other Lifepoint Health leaders in Richmond to meet with lawmakers and to advocate for hospital priority issues. 

During the time in Richmond Clinch Valley Health leaders met with eight lawmakers including:

• Delegate Rodney Willett (D-VA), who served as chair of the VA Rural Health Taskforce and visited Clinch Valley last year with Delegates from across VA to learn more about rural healthcare challenges.
• Senator Travis Hackworth (R-VA), who represents Clinch Valley in the Senate and is a former Clinch Valley board member.
• Delegate Will Morefield (R-VA), who represents Clinch Valley in the House, is a former Clinch Valley board member and one of the first Republicans to support Medicaid expansion in VA.
• Delegate Mark Sickles (D-VA), who is Vice Chair of House Appropriations and Chair of House Health and Human Services. He also visited Clinch Valley last year with the VA Rural Health Taskforce.
• Delegate Wendell Walker (R-VA), who represents the new IRF and BH facility we are building with Centra Health in Lynchburg.
• Delegate Eric Phillips (R-VA), who represents Sovah Health – Martinsville in the House.
• Delegate Wren Williams (R-VA), who represents Twin County in the House.
• Senator Bill Stanley (R-VA), who represents Twin County and Sovah Health Martinsville in the Senate.

These face to face meetings provided Clinch Valley Health's team an opportunity to thank lawmakers for their support of Clinch Valley Valley and rural healthcare, educate lawmakers about rural Southwest Virginia's unique needs and update lawmakers on workforce and patient transportation challenges. 

The time with in Richmond with Virginia lawmakers is essential for Clinch Valley Health and rural healthcare providers to have a seat at the policy table. Clinch Valley Health's team had the opportunity to share Tazewell County's needs and perspective with state lawmakers.  These meetings are a key piece of how the team at Clinch Valley Health works tirelessly to advance its mission of making communities healthier.