In July 2022, Eliza Miller took to Instagram with a post that brought huge relief to family and friends. After four terrifying days, her four-year-old daughter, Emme, was home from Nantucket Cottage Hospital.

Eliza wrote: “Emme was having a hard time breathing suddenly. She had gone limp in Pat’s arms. We rushed her to the Nantucket Cottage Hospital ER and they immediately took action to get her oxygen, tests galore, hydration, and so much more. The excellent team at the hospital tried to Med Flight her via helicopter to Boston Children’s but with bad weather on the horizon, they told us it just wasn’t possible. They even attempted to send a Coast Guard plane and even that wasn’t possible. The downside to this beautiful island.

Over the course of three days, Emme improved, thanks to the team of amazing doctors, nurses, aids and more at the @ackhospital. I’ve never been so impressed.

They were on top of my little Emme, and we were able to stay together as a family during such a scary time. We feel so lucky for everyone on-island who helped us get through those four days.”

In a follow up email, Eliza continued to praise the NCH staff: “Our nurse for the first day, Jamie, I still remember was SO positive. She was a mom too and I could tell that she understood what I was going through, she did everything in her power to not only keep Emme comfortable and explain things that could be tough for a four-year-old to understand. She also kept me comfortable by explaining what she was doing the entire time. When we found out it was impossible for Emme to be transported off the island, the entire staff assured us they could keep her stable so that she would be OK until the weather passed. Ultimately, from the care she received at NCH, Emme was discharged and was able to finish her summer on Nantucket. It was a lot of emotion and stress, but the hospital staff was SO kind, so patient, so reassuring. Nantucket Cottage Hospital really saved Emme’s life with compassion and love and kindness. I will forever hold NCH in my heart. Emme’s too!”

“Please support the critical work of Nantucket Cottage Hospital with a donation to The NCH Fund.”
– Eliza and Pat Miller

(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.

NCH will open an Urgent Access Clinic on May 23, 2022 in the Anderson Building at 57 Prospect Street to offer easy and convenient medical care for non-life-threatening conditions. 

Beginning May 23, urgent access appointments will be available Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Appointments can be made through Mass General Brigham’s Patient Gateway. Log-in to your Patient Gateway account and look for “Find Urgent Care Center” under the “Find Care” menu option to schedule your appointment.

If you cannot make an appointment online, call 508-825-1000 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Urgent Access appointments are intended for a range of symptoms, including:

• Coughs, colds, or sore throat
• Ear and eye infections
• Fever
• Minor injuries (scrapes, cuts, minor burns, sprains)
• Muscle/back pain
• Rashes
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Tick bites
• Urinary tract infections
• Vaginal infections, such as yeast infections

Read more about Urgent Access at Nantucket Cottage Hospital.