SECRECY SURROUNDS SUDDEN TERMINATION …
Baptist Easley Hospital abruptly terminated its relationship with chief executive officer Michael Batchelor late Friday.
“Michael Batchelor is no longer CEO of Baptist Easley Hospital,” Tom O’Hanlan, the hospital’s board chairman, said in a statement. “We will conduct a national search for Michael’s replacement.”
What happened?
It’s not immediately clear, but an investigative piece by reporter D.C. Moody of The Easley Progress turned up some interesting information that most of the larger mainstream media outlets missed.
“Batchelor’s resume when hired as CEO of Baptist Easley reflected service in the U.S. Army as a combat field medic beginning in 1988 with an educational background including an associate’s degree from the University of South Carolina, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, and a master’s degree in Health Care Management from Troy State University,” Moody reported.
The only problem(s)?
Maryland has no record of Batchelor ever graduating from the school, and Troy State doesn’t offer a master’s degree in health care management. Additionally, the University of South Carolina has apparently sealed Batchelor’s academic records.
Meanwhile the hospital is on lockdown mode – refusing to release Batchelor’s personnel file or to make any additional comment on his firing.
Hmmmm …