Cottage announces new head of nursing

October 25, 2006

Herb Geary has joined Cottage Health System as the new Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. He comes to Cottage from Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona where he was the Chief Nurse Executive for this 665-bed academic medical center.  During his tenure the hospital rose to national prominence for excellence in patient care, expansion of clinical programs and services, high patient, staff and physician satisfaction, and through his leadership received the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition for nursing and patient care.  Fewer than 200 hospitals nationwide have been awarded Magnet Recognition.

Prior to his tenure at Banner Good Samaritan, Mr Geary worked at Scripps Mercy Medical Center in San Diego and several other hospitals during the early years of his nursing career.

Mr Geary received his nurse training at the New Hampshire Hospital School of Nursing in Concord, New Hampshire, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Redlands and completed an MBA with a major in marketing from National University, San Diego.  He holds numerous certifications including Certified Healthcare Executive-Diplomate from the American College of Healthcare Executives and was a J&J Wharton Fellow in the Nurse Executive Leadership Program.  He has received numerous awards and accomplishments throughout his career.

He fills the position previously held by Alicia Kelley, the well-respected nursing leader who died in a car crash earlier this year.

The not-for-profit Cottage Health System, the parent organization of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and its associated Cottage Children’s Hospital, Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital last year provided inpatient care for 20,000 people, treated 61,000 patients through their 24-hour emergency departments and helped deliver 2,800 newborns. Its nursing staff numbers more than 700.