(February 11, 2022) – Nantucket Cottage Hospital is pleased to announce “ACKs of LOVE,” a two-week community initiative, starting Monday, February 14th, to recognize the immense sacrifice and dedication of hospital staff throughout the pandemic by local businesses and grateful members of our community.

The initiative, fully funded by a small group of anonymous donors, will feature 18 local businesses offering special deals to hospital staff, ranging from free yoga classes and coffee to steep discounts on clothing and massages.

“There has been an overwhelming sense of support for Nantucket Cottage Hospital from the local community”, said Jeanine Borthwick, longtime hospital volunteer and the driving force behind ACKs of LOVE. “We regularly hear and share stories about how well patients and families are treated at Nantucket Cottage Hospital and how grateful everyone is to have this incredible facility filled with top notch professionals. We want to make sure that this gratitude makes its way back to the team at Nantucket Cottage Hospital. This initiative is meant to show our thanks in a tangible way and boost morale for a group of people who have sacrificed so much for our island’s health.”

Throughout the pandemic, the staff at Nantucket Cottage Hospital has been credited with preforming over 51,000 COVID-19 tests, administering over 21,000 COVID-19 vaccinations, and caring for over 400 COVID-19 patients.

“Nantucketers take care of each other, and this is just another example of the unique generous spirit of our island. We are grateful for our dedicated hospital workers as well as the big-hearted local business partners who are supporting ACKs of LOVE,” said Borthwick. “A special thank you to the business owners who are such vital and generous community members – this is Nantucket unity and care at its best,” said Cara McCaffrey, a dedicated volunteer who helped to coordinate ACKs of LOVE.

Thank you to the following businesses for participating in ACKs of LOVE.
Staff: please check your work email for details of each offer. 

• 1111 Nantucket
• The Beet
• Corner Table Cafe
• Dharma Yoga Nantucket
• Erica Wilson
• Erin Hielle
• The Hub
• Flowers on Chestnut
• Fusaro’s Homemade Italian
• Island Kitchen
• Lavender Farm Wellness
• Marine Home Center
• Mitchell’s Book Corner
• The Nantucket Bake Shop
• Nantucket Tap Room
• Nantucket Looms
• Roastd General Store
• Supta Yoga Nantucket

(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.”