11 / 14 / 2016

Thrift Shop Makes Record Gift to NCH

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Following another hugely successful season, The Hospital Thrift Shop announced today a record-breaking gift of $400,000 to Nantucket Cottage Hospital.

The board members of the Thrift Shop presented Nantucket Cottage Hospital president and CEO Dr. Margot Hartmann with a check on Monday in the amount of $300,000, which has been earmarked for new medical equipment. Another $100,000 will be committed to the Thrift Shop’s pledge of $500,000 for the construction of the new hospital.

“This gift is a direct result of the generosity of the island community,” said Cathy Ward, President of the Thrift Shop’s Board of Directors and an NCH Trustee. “We’re thankful to everyone who made this possible, from the people who donated merchandise, to the shoppers, as well as our hardworking volunteers. We’re so happy to be able to help the hospital with both its current and future needs in a new building.”

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11 / 4 / 2016

Whaler Pride Day at NCH!

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Today is Whaler Pride Day at Nantucket Cottage Hospital!

Our staff is wearing Whaler gear at work today to support the undefeated Nantucket High School football team as it takes on Seekonk in the Div. 4 South sectional semifinals at Vito Capizzo Stadium today at 5 p.m. GO WHALERS!

11 / 1 / 2016

Cancer Care, Close to Home

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Kathy Sherman, right, with NCH oncology nurse Jane Kelly

For Nantucket resident Kathy Sherman, the initial shock of her breast cancer diagnosis was followed by a deluge of information about the disease, treatment, as well as how and where to access the medical care she needed.

“People don’t know how hard this is or how much you have to go through until it happens to them,” Sherman said.

Her anxiety eased when she learned about Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s partnership with the Mass General Cancer Center, which provides island patients with oncology services, including chemotherapy, close to their homes and without the burdensome travel to the mainland.

Today, Sherman is being treated at Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s infusion clinic with chemotherapy, and has monthly appointments with MGH oncologists who travel to the island to see NCH patients.

“I can’t say enough – they’re just fabulous here,” Sherman said. “I know a couple people who’ve come down with cancer and I told them ‘why are you going to Boston? They put the same thing in you up there as they put in you here.’ With what you have to go through, it’s just easier to go home, lay down in bed and not be travelling.” (more…)

10 / 28 / 2016

Celebrating a Chapter of NCH History: The old Nurses Dormitory

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This week we gathered former residents of the old nurses dormitory on the Nantucket Cottage Hospital campus before the structure is removed to make room for the new hospital. These nurses, techs and other hospital staff who lived in “The Dorm” at various points between 1961 and 1999, some of whom still work at the hospital, were part of a memorable chapter in the history of NCH. On Thursday, these women gathered for a photo outside the nurses dorm and traded hilarious and heartwarming stories from their days living on the hospital campus.

From left to right are Eleanor MacVicar, Charlene Thurston, Jill Johnson, Jean Bennet, Maryanne Worth, Gloria Gasnarez, Violet Allen, Betty MacDonald, Diane Ryder, Bette Allen Gauvin, Allyson Bold, and Betsey Minihan. Missing from the photo is current NCH employee Roberta Santos, as well as many others who have since moved on from the island.

10 / 27 / 2016

Open Enrollment for Mass Health Connector Begins Nov. 1st; NCH Social Services Offers Assistance

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The open enrollment period for the Massachusetts Health Connector, the state-based health insurance marketplace, begins Nov. 1st and runs through Jan. 31st, 2017.

During open enrollment, individuals and families can change their current plan, and those who are uninsured can shop for and enroll in one of the plans offered through the Health Connector.

Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s Health Care Advocates in the Social Services Department, Maria Gutierrez (508-825-8256) and Kathy Butterworth (508-825-8387), are available to assist island residents with this process. Please call to schedule an appointment.

The Health Connector web site, MAhealthconnector.org, is also available to those who want to review plans, shop and enroll.