NANTUCKET, MA – Nantucket Cottage Hospital has once again been recognized as a ‘Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital’, according to a list published Thursday by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. This is the third consecutive year the hospital has been featured on the list, which recognizes outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX.

“I am so grateful to the commitment and dedication of our outstanding team here at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, who have enabled us to be recognized for the third year in a row as a one of America’s top 100 rural hospitals – and the only one in Massachusetts I might add,” said Amy Lee, president and chief operating officer.

Now in its 14th year, the INDEX bills itself as “the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance”. Featuring a methodology utilizing publicly available data, the INDEX is leveraged nationwide by rural hospitals, health systems with rural affiliates, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

“During an era of profound uncertainty for rural healthcare, the Top 100 rural hospitals continue to provide a unique lens through which we can identify innovation and inspiration for how to deliver high quality care to increasingly vulnerable populations,” said Michael Topchik, national leader of The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “We’re delighted to be able to recognize all this year’s Top 100 but especially the more than 40 first-time recipients across both categories. It’s wonderful to see so many new facilities join the ranks of our Top 100 alumni.”

“In a time when more than 400 rural or community hospitals are at risk, I’m proud to say that our hospital is not only surviving, we are thriving,” Lee added.

(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.

January 3, 2024 – Juniel Veras Lochen was the first baby born on Nantucket in 2024, arriving at NCH on January 3. He is the son of proud parents Elise Lochen and Junior Veras, and weighed in at 7 pounds, and measured 20.5 inches. “He is a very active and alert baby,” his parents said. “He loves to talk and video chat with his big sister. We thank God he is a happy and healthy baby boy.”

November 14, 2023 –  Wrapping up its 94th year in business, the Hospital Thrift Shop presented a check this morning to Nantucket Cottage Hospital, totaling $625,000.

“This donation is a remarkable reminder of what we can do as a community. Thank you to everyone involved with the Thrift Shop – the staff, volunteers, shoppers, and donors – for creating something so meaningful for our hospital and our community,” said Amy Lee, President of NCH. “Employee housing is the hospital’s most important capital need for the foreseeable future and this gift will make a meaningful impact.”

The Thrift Shop has now donated over $7.5 million to Nantucket Cottage Hospital since 1929.

Mary Casey, Executive Director, Hospital Thrift Shop
Pam Leinbach, President of the Board of Directors, Hospital Thrift Shop
Amy Lee, President, Nantucket Cottage Hospital
Craig Muhlhauser, Chair, Board of Trustees, Nantucket Cottage Hospital
Chris Glowacki, Vice President, Strategy, Community Health and Chief Development Officer, Nantucket Cottage Hospital