October 17, 2024 – The annual enrollment and change period for Medicare’s Part D prescription drug plans runs from October 17 through December 7, 2024. Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s Social Services Department offers phone consultations for assistance with the open enrollment period. Please call 508-825-8196, Monday through Friday, to schedule an appointment (limited appointments available).

Additional assistance is available from the SHINE Program, a State Health Insurance Program that provides free, one-on-one health insurance information, counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries of all ages. Phone appointments for Nantucket residents are available through SHINE by calling 508-375-6762. You can also email SHINE@capecod.gov.

The SHINE Program can assist with questions about the following:

• Medicare
• Medicare Advantage Plans (Medicare HMOs, PPOs)
• Insurance Claim Forms
• Medicare Supplements (“Medigap”)
• Medicaid/MassHealth
• Prescription Advantage
• Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
• One Care Plans
• Health Insurance Options
• Prescription Drug Options
• Long-Term Care Insurance

Some of the services that SHINE counselors provide include:

• Reviewing your current coverage
• Reviewing your eligibility for financial assistance
• Providing health insurance plan comparisons
• Helping prepare health benefit claim forms and applications

SHINE counselors are volunteers trained and certified through the SHINE Program.

(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.

August 23, 2024 – Nantucket Cottage Hospital recognized several individuals and organizations at its 113th Annual Meeting on Friday, August 23, 2024.

Craig Muhlhauser, Chair of the NCH Board of Trustees, welcomed Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Barbara Malone, and Chief Nursing Officer, Aimee Carew-Lyons, PhD, RN, to speak about the medical updates within the hospital and throughout the MGB system.

The hospital also announced its annual awards to hospital staff and community members who have made significant contributions to the mission of NCH over the past year, as well as welcomed new members to the ranks of its Board of Trustees.

To cap off the Annual Meeting, nurse practitioner, Annette Adams, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, was awarded the prestigious Seinfeld/Hartmann Prize for Compassionate Care. The prize honors a staff member who has demonstrated exceptional compassion and care throughout their career. Annette was nominated for the past four consecutive years and awarded the cash prize in 2024. Judy Seinfeld, one of the prize’s founders, was on-hand to deliver the award.

Bruce A. Percelay Philanthropy Award presented to Nantucket Golf Club Foundation

• Over the past 22 years the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation has raised an astonishing $42 million for the benefit of Nantucket youth. Well known for its Nantucket Scholars program, which has awarded two full college scholarships to graduating Nantucket high school seniors since 2006 – and three scholarships in 2024, the Foundation has also made grants to over 80 island organizations that serve the interest of Nantucket children. Their Nantucket Professional Workforce Scholarship program is now in its 7th year, and has given partial scholarships to as many as 15 high school graduates each year pursuing education in a vocational field. This includes nursing, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

Phil Murray Organization of the Year presented to Boston MedFlight and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod

• For decades, NCH has relied on Boston MedFlight and The United States Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod for getting patients who need a higher level of care to their destination hospital safely and quickly. “I think we are all familiar with the critical role MedFlight plays in transporting patients off the island. Somewhat less visible is that several times a year, the Coast Guard transports critically ill patients in weather conditions that are prohibitive for MedFlight. In those cases, NCH staff accompany the patient. Over the past year, thanks to leadership from Jennifer Wheeler at Boston MedFlight, the two organizations have committed to a new level of collaboration with NCH and each other,” said Muhlhauser. This has included collaborative training sessions and resource commitments that make the Coast Guard flights much safer and more efficient for both our patients and our staff.

Myrt Eldridge Volunteer of the Year presented to Catherine S. Ward

• Cathy has been a trustee at NCH for 10 years and served as Vice-Chair for several of those years. Not only is she a board member, but she volunteers in the hospital emergency department. Cathy is a long-time volunteer at the Hospital Thrift Shop, where she has served as President, and she is also serves as board member at The Community Foundation for Nantucket.

Sandy Craig Leadership Award presented to Pauline Proch

• Pauline has been an extraordinary leader in public service on Nantucket for over 20 years. In January of 2022, she founded “Our House, Nantucket” where she is the Executive Director. “Our House, Nantucket,” is a not-for-profit that provides a place for young adults in high school to spend time after school engaging in social, academic, and recreational interests. Pauline also serves as the chair of the Nantucket Public School Committee, a board she has been elected to for more than 10 years, and she also serves on the Nantucket Cottage Hospital Advisory Committee.

The NCH Board of Trustees welcomed four new members, including: Matthew Hutter, MD, MPH, MBA, Doug Karp, and Beth Tilney, and thanked outgoing Trustees Lisa Clarey-Lawler, Roberto Santamaria, and Cathy Ward.

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…)

Summer 2024: Nantucket Cottage Hospital provides a range of medical services, including Urgent Access for non-life-threatening conditions, as well as a 24/7 Emergency Department. All located at 57 Prospect Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. Watch this quick video for tips to choosing the right medical care.