(November 8, 2022) Capping off its 93rd year in business, the Hospital Thrift Shop set a new record by making its largest ever annual gift to NCH after the close of the 2022 season. The Shop presented a check totaling $600,000 to NCH, which is earmarked to fund the purchase of a new MRI machine.

“Our new MRI will enhance patient care at NCH by providing shorter scan times, a bigger entry to help with claustrophobia, and a much more quiet, relaxed scan experience. New procedures will also be added, including MRI breast imaging to aid in the early detection of breast cancer,” said Dr. C. Rumph, the Director of Imaging at NCH.

The Thrift Shop has now donated over $6.9 million to Nantucket Cottage Hospital since 1929. Thank you to everyone involved in the Thrift Shop’s success this season!

The Hospital Thrift Shop sells merchandise donated by island residents and visitors – anything from used books to furniture to artwork and everything in between – from mid-May through mid-October and operates as a separate non-profit organization. Thanks to a small staff, a dedicated team of volunteers and its Board of Directors, The Thrift Shop remains a favorite for island residents and visitors both in terms of donations toward a worthy cause and as a shopping destination.

(October 25, 2022) The open enrollment period for the Massachusetts Health Connector, the state-based health insurance marketplace, begins November 1, 2022 and runs through January 23, 2023. During this time, individuals and families can change their current plan to best meet their needs, and those who are uninsured can shop for and enroll in one of the plans offered through the Health Connector. NCH is available for assistance with open enrollment. Please call 508-825-8196 to schedule an appointment, or call the Health Connector directly at 877-623-6765.

You may also visit the Health Connector website, MAhealthconnector.org to learn more.

(October 17, 2022) NCH is offering phone consultations for Open Enrollment Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D) assistance. Please call 508-825-8196 to schedule an appointment between October 17th and December 7th.

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. Both in-person and phone appointments are available through SHINE by calling 508-375-6762. You can also email SHINE@barnstablecounty.org.

The SHINE Program can assist with questions about any of 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

Patients can consult with a SHINE counselor by phone or request that they visit you at home. Counselors are volunteers trained through the SHINE Program.

September 6, 2022 – Amy E. Lee, MBA, MBHA, MJ, FACMPE, will assume the role of President of Nantucket Cottage Hospital (NCH) effective October 17. After a thorough and inclusive process endorsed by the NCH Board of Trustees, the search committee identified Amy as the ideal candidate to lead this exceptional community hospital into the future. With extensive healthcare experience and proven team-building skills, she will guide NCH’s vision while honoring its unique history and culture.

Amy currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President at Central Maine Medical Group/Central Maine Healthcare, where she is recognized for her leadership abilities and strategic vision, as well as her role as a mentor. Prior to her current role, Amy served as Vice President for Primary Care, Medical Specialties, Physician Residency Programs & Patient Contact Center at Carle Foundation Hospital, a 433-bed hospital in Urbana, Illinois.

Amy earned her Master of Jurisprudence [MJ] in Health Law from Loyola University in Chicago. Additionally, she earned both a Master of Business Administration [MBA] and a Master of Health Care Administration [MBHA] from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Amy also holds multiple professional certifications and has been active on numerous boards.

On Wednesday, August 24th, 2022, Board of Trustees Chair, Craig Muhlhauser, welcomed members of the community to Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s 111th Annual Meeting at The Nantucket Hotel. This was the first in-person NCH Annual Meeting since the summer of 2019. In his remarks Mr. Muhlhauser described a vision for the post COVID-19 future of the hospital that includes an emphasis on community engagement and talent development. Jeanette Ives-Erickson, RN, DNP, Interim President, also spoke about the team and shared excerpts of positive feedback from the public. The Annual Meeting was the first opportunity for many in the community to meet Dr. Barbara Malone since she was named Chief Medical Officer at NCH. Dr. Malone spoke about the record volume that NCH has seen this summer and the adjustments that have enabled the hospital to handle it. The Annual Meeting marked the end of board terms for trustees Stephen Karp and Sally Mason Boemer. Tim Mullen and Betsy Wright were named as new board members and previous trustee Jeanine Borthwick, who co-chaired the capital campaign for the new building, will rejoin the board.

A highlight of every Annual Meeting is the recognition of community members who have had a positive impact on the hospital and the heath of the community. This year NCH presented two Sandy Craig Leadership Awards. The award this year went to retiring Fire Chief Stephen Murphy and to outgoing NCH trustee Stephen Karp. The 2022 Myrt Eldridge Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Jeanine Borthwick who architected the “Acks of Love” employee appreciation program in early 2022. The Phil Murray Business Award was presented to Hy-Line Cruises who transported over 50,000 COVID-19 test samples to the mainland free of charge over the course of the pandemic. The Bruce A. Percelay Philanthropy Award was presented to Kim and Alan Hartman who co-chaired the NCH Annual Fund for the past two years. This year’s Seinfeld/Hartmann Prize for Compassionate Care winner is Bonnie Fitz-Gibbon, the Palliative Care Counselor at PASCON.