Christopher L . Rawlings
CEO , HospiceCare
ARIANNA WHITEHAIR
Finding connection and solace within the field of health care at a young age , Christopher Rawlings , CEO of HospiceCare , strives to bring empathy and professionalism to every patient and their families .
“ One reason I was drawn to health care , and specifically HospiceCare , is because my father passed away from a chronic disease when I was 10 years old ,” he says .
Rawlings credits his mother with being his primary source of strength , resilience and inspiration growing up .
“ My mother was a single mom raising two children , which instilled a deep-rooted expectation of hard work , never giving up and making the best out of unexpected circumstances ,” Rawlings says .
Born and raised in the Mountain State , Rawlings attended George Washington High School and received his bachelor ’ s degrees in finance , economics and accounting as well as his master ’ s in accounting and MBA from the University of South Carolina .
Taking many detours on the path to his passion , Rawlings originally started his career in public accounting and transitioned to the power generation industry before eventually making his way to health care .
“ I first entered health care working
Photo by HospiceCare .
for what was once Arnett & Foster — now Baker Tilly — performing health care auditing and consulting ,” he explains . “ My career path has involved a number of different organizations and industries , but in each of these experiences I have been able to learn and expand my knowledge base .”
Today , as the CEO of HospiceCare , Rawlings is responsible for the organization ’ s operations and strategic vision .
“ The challenges in health care in West Virginia , as well as nationally , are extensive , but the feeling of helping people in critical moments is a calling as much as it is a profession ,” he says .
While there are many obstacles that plague the progress , quality and accessibility of the modern health care industry , Rawlings cites one problem that has affected him more deeply than others .
“ One challenge that keeps me up at night is the ongoing funding streams available to health care entities to care for patients ,” he says . “ Reimbursements continue to be cut , whether it be at the federal level or private insurance , while labor and supply costs continue to increase . There seems to be a widening of mismatches between revenue and the cost of care .”
Describing the hospice delivery model in West Virginia as world-class , Rawlings says the state currently ranks in
80 WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE