Cottage CEO suspended
Police investigation of alleged domestic battery pending
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Wednesday, June 21, 2006
GALESBURG - Galesburg Cottage Hospital Chief Executive Officer Cory Countryman has been suspended, with pay, after being arrested over the weekend for domestic battery and unlawful restraint.Cottage Hospital Marketing Director Eileen Inness said this morning it is company policy to only comment by press releases.
According to the prepared release, the CEO has been suspended "pending the outcome of the police investigation."
Ron Shafer, a senior level health care executive with more than 20 years of hospital management experience has been appointed interim CEO.
According to police, Countryman, 33, was arrested at 5:19 a.m. Sunday at 2490 Costa Drive.
Countryman's wife told police he beat her. She called police from a friend's house Sunday morning after leaving home with her son after her husband fell asleep. Countryman's wife complained of a swollen and bruised lump on her forehead and broken and dislocated bones in her hand. She was transported to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria for surgery on her hand Monday after being treated at OSF St. Mary Medical Center.
According to police, she also said she had scrapes on her back, knees, arms and chest and a burn on her knees from falling to the floor. On Monday, she filed an order of protection against her husband at the Knox County Courthouse. The order requires her to have no contact with her and stay more than 50 feet away.
Countryman was appointed CEO of Cottage in February. He began work at the Galesburg hospital the year before as the assistant CEO. Before coming to Galesburg, he served as CEO of the 198-bed North Vista Hospital in North Las Vegas, Nev.
He was released from the Knox County jail on $10,000 bond Monday. He is scheduled to appear in Knox County Circuit Court next month.
According to the news release from Cottage, "Because this is a police matter and a personnel issue, the hospital does not anticipate making any further comments at this time."
