In the latest issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Margot Hartmann, president and CEO of Nantucket Cottage Hospital, and Jason Graziadei, public information officer, write about the unique challenges of keeping the hospital’s 24/7 emergency department open and fully staffed through the island’s seasonal population swings and in its remote geographic location. Read the full article by clicking here. 

Small community hospitals throughout the United States are facing threats including low volume, declining reimbursements, and staffing challenges. Nantucket Cottage Hospital, a 19-bed facility and one of the smallest hospitals in Massachusetts, must also navigate the complexity of operating on an island 30 miles offshore, where the year-round population of 15,000 swells to more than 60,000 during the summer months. There is no off-the-shelf staffing model that works in the clinical environment of our emergency department (ED). The ED provides care to more than 10,000 patients every year, but the majority of them present between Memorial Day and Columbus Day.

The Birthplace has implemented new technology to improve fetal monitoring for expecting mothers at Nantucket Cottage Hospital.

On Jan. 12th, The Birthplace went live with the Obix perinatal data system, a comprehensive system for central, bedside and remote electronic fetal monitoring. The new system will integrate with Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s new electronic medical record system, Epic, when it goes live in the spring, and will help hospital clinicians improve their practice, educate their staff, and promote patient safety.

Welcome to Nantucket’s 2017 New Year’s Baby: Iroda Nurilloeva!

Iroda, a baby girl, was born Monday, Jan. 2, at 8:40 p.m. at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces, and measuring 19 1/4 inches.

She is the daughter of Toliba Muradova and Fayzullo Eshonkulov, and is the first baby born at NCH in 2017. Congratulations to the proud parents! (more…)

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.

The annual enrollment and change period for Medicare’s Part D Prescription drug plans begins Oct. 15^th and runs through December 7th.

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 can vary in cost and drugs covered.

Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s Social Services Department provides one-on-one consultations for those Medicare recipients who wish to enroll or review their current prescription plan. Due to the fact that plans can change yearly, NCH Social Services Manager Peter MacKay advises island residents to look over their plans on an annual basis to ensure it is the best option to meet their needs. (more…)