Lead Culpeper delivers valuable results

By: Business Monday - Jim Charapich | Culpeper Star Exponent 
Published: October 15, 2012

http://www2.starexponent.com/lifestyles/2012/oct/15/lead-culpeper-delivers-valuable-results-ar-2283229/

Lead Culpeper continues to deliver valuable results to our members. Our group was invited to the Culpeper Regional Health System offices last week to understand the role that CRH plays in the leadership of our community.

Our group was treated to presentations from several of the key leaders of Culpeper Regional Health System. President and CEO of the Culpeper Regional Health System, Lee Kirk, welcomed the group and gave an overview of the organization. My take away from his comments is that health care is a local business and we can make a difference locally in helping to solve some of the issues. A good example of this is the “Drop It” program that is held each winter to encourage a healthy lifestyle through diet, exercise, and healthy choices. With nearly 1,800 taking the challenge each year, the total weight loss recorded for the last three years was 10,248.84 pounds. This is a remarkable achievement and great example of community leadership for our group to understand.

We followed the morning presentations with a tour of the Powell Wellness Center, PWC. As part of the CRH System, PWC has both a rehabilitative center as well as a fitness facility. For a health system to have an integrated fitness facility demonstrates another aspect of excellent leadership, since a small percentage of health systems have this benefit nationally. A big part of the health care reform discussion relates to preventative health care. Fitness facilities play an increasingly important role in solving our proactive health care issues.

We were fortunate to have a tour of the Culpeper Free Clinic where we were given a presentation and tour of the facility by Norma Dunwody, the clinic director.

Dunwody commented that she had volunteered for over 15 years at the Free Clinic before taking the role as director. She further discussed how important the free clinic is to have as a safety net for our community. Many of the workers in our community have received help at the free clinic allowing them to maintain jobs as productive parts of the local work force. Asked how her budget was funded, she described private donations, business contributions, and fund raising activities. There is a clear demand for these services especially due to the economic times. This is another example of leadership at its best for our group to see.

Finally, we were given a briefing on the status of mental health issues in the community. We met John Waldeck at the RRCSB Behavioral Health Services facility on the CRH campus. Passionate about helping those with mental health and substance abuse issues, Mr. Waldeck described the increasing demand for service in light of the ever increasing pressure for funding. The collateral impact to the community for delayed or diminished services could be very detrimental and burdensome. This was an eye opening visit for our leaders as they considered coworkers, friends, or family members that have suffered in these areas of need.

I can only be reaffirmed in our mission at the Chamber of Commerce as a result of our day. The safety net in our community is supported by the revenues of our economic circumstances. A robust economy enables a strong safety net. Our Lead Culpeper group will see economic development in a different light, as a strategic partner in a healthy quality of life for our community.

Jim Charapich is the President/CEO of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at JimC@CulpeperChamber.com.