Samaritan CFO Paul Kraeger out with spinal cord injury

By REBECCA MADDEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER

TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

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Samaritan Medical Center will go forward with business as usual while Chief Financial Officer Paul A. Kraeger recovers from a serious bicycle accident, according to hospital spokeswoman Krista A. Kittle.

The accident, which occurred at 2:22 p.m. Thursday, left Mr. Kraeger, 55, with a spinal cord injury, according to state police.

“His family keeps updating everyone here,” Ms. Kittle said Monday. “He’s making progress each and every day. He has a positive attitude about this.”

She said that while it’s too early to tell how long Mr. Kraeger will be out of work, Samaritan must go forward with daily business.

“We have been meeting with our leaders today to get our arms around all projects Paul’s involved in so we can get those moving forward,” Ms. Kittle said. “We want Paul’s first (priority) to be getting better while we have things moving here.”

According to state police, Mr. Kraeger was right of the white line on the side of the road Thursday afternoon as he was riding southwest on Route 3 near Black River. With earphones in and looking down, he ran into the back of a parked FedEx truck.

He was taken by helicopter to Upstate Medical University, Syracuse.

Earlier reports stated that the accident occurred at 2:22 a.m. because the time was erroneously given by police.

Doretta S. Royer, spokeswoman for the hospital, said Monday that Mr. Kraeger was listed in serious condition.

Ms. Kittle said Samaritan CEO Thomas H. Carman visited Mr. Kraeger at the hospital and reported that Mr. Kraeger’s spirits “are wonderful.”

Mr. Kraeger is also president of the North Country Children’s Clinic board of directors. Should any matter need attention with the agency, board Vice President Margaret Sorensen will step in.

Times staff writer Brian Kelly contributed to this report.