Colleen Heeter

GILLETTE (WNE) — Former Campbell County Health CEO Colleen Heeter agreed to a $675,000 severance package after being fired from the health care system last month. Hospital trustees have not given a reason for her termination.

In late August, after Heeter wrapped up her first year at the helm of the Gillette organization, trustees had awarded Heeter a $62,635 bonus, which was on top of her $450,000 base salary.

Heeter became a UCHealth employee in September, when CCH and Colorado-based UCHealth officially began its affiliation agreement. Although she was technically employed by UCHealth, she continued to run CCH and answer to its hospital board of trustees.

UCHealth effectively billed CCH for Heeter’s contract under the arrangement. The severance package will work similarly, with the severance agreement Heeter reached with UCHealth paid for by CCH.

“It’s a hard pill for everyone on the board to swallow, it’s a hard pill for our community to swallow,” hospital board Chairman Adrian Gerrits said.

The 18-month severance package paid to Heeter was negotiated with CCH before she became a UCHealth employee. Going forward, Gerrits said a 12-month severance package likely will be worked into future CEO contracts.

Heeter was paid a salary of $450,000 plus contractually stated bonuses.

Jerry Klein, the former chief operating officer, was promoted to interim CEO after the hospital board trustees voted unanimously to remove Heeter from the organization in a mid-October special meeting. 

Klein will not become a UCHealth employee in the interim and trustees ensured his spot back as chief operating officer once a CEO is hired.

Trustees recently approved a 20% raise for Klein, increasing his salary to $362,274.

The search for a new permanent CEO is underway and expected to take six to nine months. UCHealth is leading the search.