Ballot Question 1 would impose mandated nurse staffing ratios for all patients, at all times, in all hospitals in Massachusetts. 

Dr. Lepore: “I’m not a nurse but I work with them all day long, I am married to a nurse and my daughter is a nurse. I feel that Question 1 is an attempt to impose on all hospitals artificial staffing patterns which can be better managed by collaboration between hospital administration and the nursing administration. There is no “one size fits all” way to handle nursing staffing patterns. The requirements of Nantucket Cottage Hospital are very different from the Boston hospitals and very different from the specialty hospitals such as mental health institutions.

This question appears to provide an answer to the staffing questions, but, in fact, would create unrealistic, unnecessary and costly problems. Everyone supports the work of our nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals but staffing numbers are idiosyncratic to the institution and the patients.”

Sarah Chotkowski, LICSW, has been named Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s new manager of social services following the retirement of Peter MacKay.

As an independent clinical social worker, Chotkowski is fully licensed to provide clinical services and has a background in practice management, outpatient therapy, and emergency crisis intervention.

Chotkowski has been an island resident for the past four years working in various roles at Fairwinds – Nantucket’s Counseling Center, most recently as the organization’s coordinator of clinical operations. She has previously collaborated with Nantucket Cottage Hospital staff as part of the mobile crisis team.

“In many ways it feels like I am ‘rejoining’ the hospital team, and I could not be happier,” Chotkowski said. (more…)

Caitlin O’Hearn Kaplan, PA-C, has joined the Nantucket Cottage Hospital medical staff as a full-time physician assistant who will support the Walk-In Care service and primary care practices.

Kaplan, who previously worked at Nantucket Cottage Hospital as an emergency room technician, has returned to the island after completing additional education and clinical training through Northeastern University and serving as a physician assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital.

In addition to her familiarity with Nantucket patients through the NCH Emergency Department, Kaplan has also worked with island physician Tim Lepore and the Yale Medical School on three separate studies on tick-borne diseases.

“I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to return to the place where I started my medical career,” Kaplan said. “I love my island community!” (more…)

Happy National Nurses Week!

Here are a few of the more than 70 nurses who work at NCH and the physician practices.

Please take a moment to recognize the NCH nursing staff members who provide compassionate care to our island community every day of the year!