November 1, 2024 – The open enrollment period for the Massachusetts Health Connector, the state-based health insurance marketplace, begins November 1, 2024 and runs through January 23, 2025.

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.

NCH’s Health Care Advocates are available for assistance with this process. Please call Diane at 508-825-8256 or Andrew at 508-825-8199 to schedule an appointment. To speak directly with the Massachusetts Health Connector, call 877-623-6765.

The Health Connector website, MAhealthconnector.org, is also available to review plans, shop and enroll.

(September 2024) – Nantucket Cottage Hospital is administering flu and COVID shots throughout the Fall. Appointments are required and are available to book on the Patient Gateway or by calling 508-825-1000. Vaccines will be administered in the Physician Practices area of the main hospital building at 57 Prospect Street.

A flu vaccine protects you from getting the flu and can also reduce your risk from flu complications. The CDC also recommends you stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines. The updated vaccine protects against the latest virus variants.

Flu and COVID vaccines are also available to patients during a regular primary care visit.

June 12, 2024 – Nantucket Cottage Hospital (NCH) is significantly expanding its physical therapy services, after agreeing to transition Manning & Associates Physical Therapy into its rehabilitation services department on July 8.

Manning & Associates owner, Joseph Manning, has been in communication with hospital leadership this past year about integrating his practice into the hospital’s current programs.

“We were obviously very familiar with the high-quality care Joe and his team provide – many of his patients are ours as well – so we saw it as an important opportunity to ensure that our island community will continue to have access to these excellent physical therapists,” said Nantucket Cottage Hospital president and chief operating officer Amy Lee. “We are committed to ensuring the island has the services the community needs, and also that there will be a seamless transition as they continue their care.” (more…)

(May 13, 2023) The Hospital Thrift Shop reopened for its 95th year in business on Monday, May 13, 2024. The line stretched down India Street and wrapped around to Centre Street, with shoppers eager to browse through merchandise donated over the winter by island residents and visitors. Founded in 1929 by a small group of volunteers, the Thrift Shop sells affordable, recycled clothing and household items to benefit Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Since opening almost 100 years ago, the Thrift Shop has donated over $7.5 million to NCH. Visit HospitalThriftShop.org to learn more.

(February 1, 2024) – Nantucket Cottage Hospital is delighted to announce that local resident Steven Kohler, MD, joined NCH in January 2024 as Medical Director of Urgent Access. A graduate of Temple Medical School, Dr. Kohler’s background includes a transitional internship and Internal Medicine Residency at Cambridge Hospital, a Harvard Medical School program, as well as an Emergency Medicine Residency at University Hospital, Jacksonville, University of Florida.

Dr. Kohler brings a wealth of experience to his new role having served as an Emergency Medicine Physician at Cape Cod Hospital since 1996. He has lived on Nantucket fulltime since then and has been doing the “reverse commute” to Cape Cod during that time. While at Cape Cod Hospital he has experienced over 125,000 emergency room and urgent care patient encounters.

Dr. Kohler commented, “I am looking forward to expanding urgent access on the island. We hope to include expanding the urgent care to non-appointment-based encounters, as well as simple procedures such as laceration care.”

Amy Lee, President, and COO of NCH, remarked, “We took the feedback regarding Urgent Access from the community very seriously and are investing in the expansion of services. We are excited that Dr. Kohler will provide his expertise to this critical role.”

Urgent Access is for minor injuries or illnesses like tick bites, rashes, sprains, coughs, colds, sore throats, fevers, and eye infections. Urgent Access care is available to everyone – not just existing Nantucket Cottage Hospital patients. However, to be treated at the Urgent Access Clinic, patients will need to be registered with Mass General Brigham. Those who have received care at Nantucket Cottage Hospital in the past are already registered. All others should call 866-211-6588 to register.

Patients may make an Urgent Access appointment by accessing MGB’s online Patient Gateway or by calling 508-825-1000.