Addressing Substance Use Disorder in Rainelle
of what is now Mercer County. As such, he is passionate about West Virginians and ensuring they are not overlooked.
“ A major challenge in health care finance is resisting the temptation to reduce people to line items,” he explains.“ The system typically sees people as a revenue source or payroll expense. Generally accepted account principles, tax laws and regulations do a poor job valuing people. Compliance matters, but the real work is building systems that protect care, honor staff and keep the organization sustainable.”
Clay recognizes the value of others, from patients to employees to family, which is obvious in his business and community commitments.
At RMC, he is currently working alongside partners such as ZMM Architects & Engineers to plan and open a 9,000-square-foot integrated health care practice in White Sulphur Springs. Personally, he has donated all proceeds from his book“ Five Principles for a Meaningful, Fruitful Life” to
Since securing new grant support from the Health Resources and Services Administration, Rainelle Medical Center( RMC) is building a coordinated approach to substance use disorder( SUD) prevention, treatment and recovery.
Christopher Clay, chief financial officer and information technology director for RMC, is working closely with other RMC team members, including Behavioral Health Director Laura Eagle, LICSW, to help develop and support SUD and overdose prevention programs across the organization’ s service area.
“ The goal is simple: increase trust, reduce barriers and make the path into care clear, dignified and attainable,” Clay says.
RMC staff and peer specialists are working to set up and host regular community outreach events throughout the region that will provide education on overdose risks and how to respond in an emergency.
God’ s Way Home, a 501( c)( 3) nonprofit focused on helping men experiencing substance use disorder. He has also chaired the Rainelle United Methodist Church council, served as pulpit supply for local churches when pastors are absent and served on the board of trustees for Greenbrier Valley Medical Center. He is currently a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and the board for the Rainelle Community Development Corporation.
Looking ahead, Clay hopes to see RMC employ hundreds more people and
“ They will also connect individuals and families directly to RMC treatment and recovery services, including behavioral health support and SUD care,” Clay explains.“ RMC will also run an ongoing outreach campaign in media, helping ensure that information about services, locations and upcoming events reaches working families, isolated residents and those not connected to traditional channels.”
RMC is working toward distributing overdose prevention resources more widely with an emphasis on immediate access. Naloxone will be made available through the Lewisburg Behavioral Health site and distributed through strategic community touchpoints such as schools, health fairs, outreach events, recovery homes and the RMC mobile unit. Fentanyl test strips will also be provided to help reduce harm from fentanyl contamination, and RMC will expand access to medications for SUD, integrated with behavioral health care and peer support.
build its next phase, including scalable systems and facilities and technology that let its teams deliver integrated care with excellence.
“ I always try to leave things better than I found them,” he says.“ We want RMC, our staff, our community and especially ourselves to be better today than we were yesterday. Every day is a new opportunity to grow, get smarter, build each other up and shine a light in the world that will last beyond our lives and leave a legacy that points beyond ourselves.” •
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