Below is the complete version of a letter to the editor that was published in the Dec. 15 edition of The Inquirer and Mirror to update the island community about the new hospital project: 

We have entered an exciting yet challenging chapter in the 105-year history of Nantucket Cottage Hospital as we prepare to build the island’s new hospital. We would like to provide an update to the community about our progress to date, and what’s to come in the months ahead.

If you’ve driven by the hospital recently, you’ve probably noticed that our campus at 57 Prospect Street has begun to transform.  Before we can break ground for the new hospital, we are completing several enabling projects to create space for the new building, which will be located directly behind the existing hospital in the southwest corner of our property. (more…)

Focusing on Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s campaign to build a new hospital, Milestones magazine is designed to provide an update on the project and celebrate the donors and volunteers who are making this historic initiative a reality. Published in November 2016, our third issue highlights the Percelay Family’s incredible gift of $10 million, plus we give readers a glimpse into what the new hospital will look like inside. Read the complete digital edition by clicking below:

Nantucket Cottage Hospital announced today that it has been recognized by the National Organization of State Office of Rural Health (NOSORH) and  iVantage Health Analytics for overall excellence in quality and patient satisfaction, reflecting top quartile performance among all acute care hospitals in the nation.

“This is a well-deserved recognition of the professionalism and compassion that our staff brings to Nantucket Cottage Hospital every day,” said Dr. Margot Hartmann, president and CEO of Nantucket Cottage Hospital. “The quality of care and the experience we provide our patients are two of the most important measures of our performance as a hospital, so it is gratifying to see the efforts of our staff honored in this way.”

Nantucket Cottage Hospital is one of only two rural hospitals in Massachusetts to be recognized by NOSORH and iVantage for excellence in quality, joining Martha’s Vineyard Hospital in earning this distinction.

The rankings have been designated by the Hospital Strength INDEX™, the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of hospital performance. In partnership with NOSORH, iVantage Health Analytics has developed a data-driven program designed to identify excellence across a broad spectrum of indicators relevant to hospital performance and patient care. The Hospital Strength INDEX™ captures performance metrics for more than 4,000 acute care hospitals, including over 1,300 rural and Critical Access Hospitals. Leveraging data from public data sources, INDEX aggregates data from 66 individual metrics into three major categories and nine pillars to derive a single strength overall rating for each facility.

“These top quartile performers should take great pride in this recognition,” said Michael Topchik, senior vice president of iVantage Health Analytics.  “It showcases their commitment to continuous performance analysis and improvement. On this occasion of National Rural Health Day, it’s an honor to celebrate their achievement as they continue to serve their communities despite the many market, regulatory and financial pressures they face.”

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.

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.