(November 2021) When Abby and Bob Alario decided to start a family, they wanted their medical care delivered with compassion, kindness, and a sense of community. After careful planning and consideration, they knew the best place to meet their needs was Nantucket Cottage Hospital.

“We had lots of friends and family members that have had babies in major cities and realized a lot of hospitals treat labor and delivery like a factory line and don’t provide dedicated care,” said Bob. “We wanted something more, and we are so grateful we chose Nantucket Cottage Hospital.”

As it turns out, Abby’s delivery was more complicated than anyone expected. After 10 hours in labor, Abby was rushed to the operating room for an emergency c-section, where Jack Sampson Alario was safely delivered. (more…)

(October 15, 2021) The annual enrollment and change period for Medicare Part D prescription drug plans is now open and runs through December 7.

To get Medicare prescription drug coverage, you must be enrolled in, or join a plan run by an insurance company or other private company approved by Medicare. Each plan varies in cost and coverage.

Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s Social Services Department provides free one-on-one consultations for those Medicare recipients who wish to enroll or review their current prescription plan. Please call 508-825-8196 to make an appointment. Appointments are available through December 7.

Since plans can change yearly, NCH Social Services Manager Sarah Chotkowski advises island residents to look over their plans on an annual basis to ensure it is the best option to meet their needs.

Nantucket Cottage Hospital hosted its 110th Annual Meeting virtually on Friday, August 20th, 2021, led by Craig Muhlhauser, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Gary Shaw, President and CEO, the meeting focused on the future of healthcare on the island through primary care and whole-person health and wellness.

NCH announced five annual awards to staff and community members who have made significant contributions to the mission of NCH over the past year, including:

Seinfeld/Hartmann Award for Compassionate Care:

• Ugne Aleknaite, NP – “Ugne is currently the Program Leader for Hematology-Oncology at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, where she provides direct patients care, ranging from diagnosis to chemotherapy and advance care planning for patients on Nantucket. Aleknaite holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Mass General Hospital Institute of Health Professionals and is a Certified Nurse Practitioner with certifications in Adult Gerontology Primary Care from American Nurses Credentialing Center, Chemotherapy Biotherapy, and Functional Medicine. As a program leader, Ugne was recognized by family members of those in her care for providing exceptional care during their loved ones in their final months of life. One Family member noted, “Ugne has a really special way of being able to deliver devastating news with empathy and true humanity. So many medical professionals could learn from her, how to be empathetic and caring, but also how to be realistic and honest. It is a real balance that I have rarely seen in a caregiver. When my (Family Member’s) condition was deteriorating, she spoke to us with such grace, but also with an understanding that the news she was delivering would change our lives.”

Sandy Craig Leadership Award:

• Dr. Elizabeth Hallett – “When Dr. Elizabeth Hallett became the Superintendent of the Nantucket Public Schools on July 1, 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic she was stepping into an extraordinary leadership challenge. 5 weeks later she presented the community with a 50 page comprehensive plan for safely reopening the Nantucket Public Schools in a new hybrid model of education. Throughout the pandemic Dr. Hallett coordinated closely with NCH and the Nantucket Department of Health to provide for the safety of NPS employees, students and their families.”

Bruce A. Percelay Philanthropy Award:

• Melanie Sabelhaus – “Melanie Sabelhaus has been a member of the Board of Trustees and Chair or co-Chair of the Marketing and Development committee since 2018. Her impact on philanthropy at NCH goes back much further. She has Chaired the Boston Pops on Nantucket twice and her energy and innovations transformed the Pops into Nantucket’s most treasured event. She was also a founding co-chair of the popular annual Women+Wellness event. Most recently, her relentless effort to build support for NCH despite the cancellation of The Pops concert in 2020 and 2021 has been critical to NCH’s financial stability.”

Phil Murray Business Award:

• 97.7 ACK-FM, Nantucket’s ‘True Island Radio’ – “The radio and digital media company is a trusted media partner that was instrumental in communicating NCH’s messages to the community throughout the pandemic. As information during the pandemic was constantly evolving, NCH relied on Executive Vice President, Laura Burnett and her team to quickly relay messages to the community and their efforts contributed significantly to the success of the testing and vaccination programs. In 2021, 97.7 ACK-FM gave additional support to NCH in the form of a gift in memory of Dr. Robert Shapiro. Owned by Jeff Shapiro, the company’s media products include the radio stations 97.7 ACK-FM and 89.5 Quahog Country, and the digital newsletters Daybreak and Mahon About Town.”

Myrt Eldridge Volunteer of the Year:

• Meryl Bralower – “Meryl is one of three women who co-founded Women+Wellness, an annual event that brings likeminded individuals together to learn about health and wellness-related topics from NCH and MGB clinicians. Since founding the event in 2017, Meryl has co-chaired each year’s event and personally recruited leading MGH clinicians as speakers Meryl is the consummate volunteer who is always willing to cheerful address and challenge.”

The NCH Board of Trustees also welcomed one new member, Lisa Clarey-Lawler, and thanked three outgoing members, Jack Burke, Bruce Chabner and Liz Winship.

(July 22, 2021) – In response to a regional surge of COVID-19 cases, Nantucket Cottage Hospital is expanding its COVID-19 testing services for symptomatic patients or those potentially exposed to COVID-19 on Nantucket, beginning Friday, July 23rd, 2021.

Testing will be offered in the Anderson Building, across the parking lot from the main Nantucket Cottage Hospital building. Patients are asked to wait in their vehicles until they are called to enter in through the side of the building, following the signs from the parking lot. To schedule an appointment, members of the public exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms or who been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual should call (508) 825-1000 and request COVID-19 testing. Phone lines are open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., tests on Saturday should be scheduled during the Monday – Friday business hours, and the testing center is closed on Sundays.

“Nantucket Cottage Hospital will continue to respond and adapt to the needs of the community as this situation develops,” said James Lanza, Public Information Officer for the Nantucket Cottage Hospital. “The most important steps individuals can take to safeguard their own health, and the health of others in the community is still to get vaccinated, consider wearing a mask in crowded and public areas, and to follow CDC guidelines as they evolve.”

Boston Pops for Nantucket

Gather with family and friends on Saturday, August 14th at 8 p.m. for a televised special on NCTV Channel 18, the Best of the Beach, in celebration of previous year’s Boston Pops on Nantucket concerts. The program will feature a compilation of our favorite songs from Kenny Loggins in 2016, a selection from RAIN, the Beatles tribute band, from 2018, as well as songs from The Spinners who joined us at Jetties Beach in 2019.

“With the difficult news of The Pops cancellation this year, we wanted to give the community something we can all rally around in celebration of Nantucket Cottage Hospital as we look back at some of our best performances,” said Gary Shaw, President and CEO of Nantucket Cottage Hospital. “The Best of the Beach is just that, an opportunity for our community to get together in our homes, for an event highlighting the spirit of inclusivity and celebration that The Pops brings to Nantucket year after year.”

Sponsored by White Elephant Resorts, Jill and Stephen Karp, the Best of the Beach telecast will air on Nantucket Community Television Channel 18 at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 14th.

We all wish we could be together at Jetties Beach this summer for what would have been the 25th anniversary of the Boston Pops on Nantucket. Unfortunately, as the island transitions out of COVID-19 protocols, municipal resources are stretched too thin to accommodate even a scaled-down concert. Throughout the pandemic, NCH was here for the community – keeping us safe by administering over 30,000 COVID-19 tests and over 18,000 vaccinations. Now is the community’s opportunity to give back and say thanks to our frontline healthcare workers. Every gift makes a difference – from lemonade stand proceeds to corporate gifts – help us raise $2 million to cover the unexpected expenses incurred responding to COVID-19. Click here to donate now and save the date for next year, August 13, 2022!