Today is a BIG day on our little island 30 miles out to sea as Nantucket Cottage Hospital opened the doors to its fabulous new state-of-the-art building early this morning! The new hospital is the outcome of an unparalleled $120 million capital campaign, the largest in Nantucket history. The new and vastly improved 106,000 square foot facility was built entirely through private donations, debt-free, and with no taxpayer dollars. The day started with staff and the CEO, Dr. Margot Hartmann, greeting the first patient surrounded by proud staff members and proudly transferring the final patients of the old building to the new. Pictured below are #FisherFriends, Laura Cunningham & Chris Wendzicki (of our favorite island digital creative agency Yellow Productions) and their baby boy who was born just this morning.
I had the opportunity to tour the stunning new facility before the move was official and wanted to share a few things I am most excited about for our island’s main hub for healthcare.
First and foremost, I want to pay homage to the old building as it is near and dear to many residents, visitors, and staff alike. The care myself, my family, and friends have received at the hospital has always exceeded expectations. Many feel as though the old building was charming and “homey”; and it was. It just didn’t match the level of care. For those that are sad to see it go Dr. Hartmann has made it a top priority to bridge the old hospital with the new. The compass most would recognize upon entering has been revamped and modernized and purposefully placed upon the new main entrance floor, so you know you’re in the right place. Once I admired the new compass at my feet, the wood wall immediately caught my eye. This stunning piece of craftsmanship moves fluidly like an ocean wave down the corridor and might remind you of a classic woven Nantucket Basket. While the entrance makes an impeccable first impression, my favorite nod to the old facility sits on the second floor and was made possible by a donation from the Hospital Thrift Shop and the remarkable talent and craft of Barber & Sons Nantucket. Beech trees that stood tall and strong in the former courtyard where many patients awaited appointments and staff enjoyed lunch on sunny afternoons were milled and transformed into beautiful tables and benches for staff, patients, and visitors to enjoy once again in the new dining area.
Privacy and convenience are paramount these days, especially when we are talking about our health and wellness. I am happy to report both were a major focus of the new building. I was thrilled to see that all primary care and specialty offices are in one central location now with their own separate entrance – meaning you can avoid going into the main building if your just there for an annual check-up! So, no more wondering which doctor is where or what phone number to call to get an appointment- that’s right, one main phone number to reach any one of NCH’s expert physician’s offices. And a perhaps overlooked incredible improvement – a private consultation area when exiting your primary care physician’s appointment to discuss treatment, prescriptions, and any other nitty gritty things everyone in the waiting room doesn’t need to hear. The team behind the design was also careful to make sure different departments that consistently overlap (going from the ER to get an x-ray or from labor & delivery to the operating room) flow seamlessly without the awkward trip through the halls in your hospital gown waving to your neighbor, dry cleaner, or hair stylist on the way. If you ever had any type of procedure or gave birth at the old hospital, you know that spaces for your family and friends to relax and be active participants in the process of your patient care were few and far between. Added discrete spaces and respite rooms offer the privacy and comfort your family, friends, and patient care team need to support you through your journey at Nantucket Cottage Hospital. While we are on the topic of convenience, an additional operating room and a bonus procedure room in the new and improved building means the days of your standard scheduled procedure being cancelled because a mom-to-be needs an emergency c-section are long gone.
The new hospital was wisely designed to fulfill the needs of the way medicine is practiced today but with the foresight and flexibility to align with healthcare of the future. And while technology and modern medicine is of the utmost importance, let’s not forget about the look and the feel- showcasing light and bright neutrals with splashes of NCH blue throughout and elegantly minimalist donor recognition; the new building really shines from an aesthetics perspective. The facility will effortlessly meet the needs of patients and visitors while most importantly, meeting codes and simply operating more efficiently which allows NCH to invest more resources into programs, services and attracting only the best clinicians instead of the former aging facility.
The final phase will now commence as the old building will be removed and finishing touches to landscaping and parking are completed. So, as we collectively wave goodbye to the old building over the next few months, we say hello to the first new medical facility on the island in more than 60 years. Truly an incredible undertaking, we tip our hats to the hundreds or hardworking employees, architects, designers, donors and volunteers that were a part of this incredible investment in the future of our island.
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