New President & CEO - Sacred Heart Hospital

Polar Plunge Recap:
Hospital Team Again Named
Top Fundraising Group
As the Eau Claire Polar Plunge’s
number one fundraising group
for the past 7 years, Sacred Heart
Hospital’s “Critical Care Crew”
was the first team to jump into
the frigid waters of Half Moon
Lake on Sunday, February 26. The
group was not only again the top
fundraising group, bringing in more
than $10,000, but also included
the top two on-line fundraisers
in Dr. Anton Kidess ($2,645) and
John Folstad ($1,590). In total, the
event raised over $160,000, which
goes toward providing the needed
funding for more than 10,000
athletes with cognitive disabilities
to reach for gold during Special
Olympics. As a devoted member
of the community, Sacred Heart is
proud of our compassionate staff
and supporters for the example
they have set. Next year, all are
encouraged to join the team and
support this wonderful cause.
In The News
ENT Today
Robert DeFatta, MD, Ph.D, and Rima DeFatta, MD,
a husband and wife team of Ear, Nose, & Throat
specialists at Sacred Heart’s Head & Neck Center, who
were recently featured in the January issue of ENT
Today. The article, entitled “Making Up the Difference:
Otolaryngologists find ways to provide care for underand
uninsured patients,” features the challenges ENTs
face to successfully diagnose and treat patients who
have limited or no insurance coverage. The article states, “Both Dr.
Rima and Dr. Robert DeFatta have had some success securing insurance coverage
for certain medications or procedures by sending additional documentation to
insurance companies, including journal articles that demonstrate the validity of
their choices.”
To view this article in its entirety, please visit:www.sacredhearteauclaire.org/content12382
HealthLeaders Media
Robert DeFatta, MD, Ph.D, a double board certified
otolaryngologist and facial plastic and reconstructive
surgeon at Sacred Heart’s Head & Neck Center, was
recently featured in a January issue of HealthLeaders
Media in an article entitled, “What’s Wrong with the
da Vinci Robot?” In the article, Dr. DeFatta praises the
da Vinci robot as the vehicle for entering a “new era”
of treatment that, among other things, reduces the
amount of chemotherapy needed in treatment. In
addition, it has mitigated the need for feeding tubes,
and enabled patients to return to normal speech and
swallowing soon after surgery.
To view this article in its entirety, please visit:www.sacredhearteauclaire.org/content12383
Fishing for a Cause
Sacred Heart Team Takes 1st Prize at Lake
Wissota UCP Fundraiser
On Saturday, February 18, the Sacred Heart Ice Fishing
Team (S.H.I.F.T.) enjoyed a beautiful day on Little Lake
Wissota to participate in and support the annual United
Cerebral Palsy ice fishing tournament. More than 400
participants entered the contest, but the hospital’s 25
person squad took home the first prize trophy for most
fish caught.
When the team wasn’t catching fish, they
were enjoying gourmet cuisine prepared by
fellow team member, Randy Lathrop (left),
Executive Chef at Sacred Heart. In total, the
event raised more than $50,000 toward the
valuable services offered by United Cerebral
Palsy.