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February 2013
Need a doctor on-island?
Call MD ACKcess 508-825-1000
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Timothy J. Lepore, MD, FACS
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New Tick-borne Disease Discovered
Nantucket patient infected with new illness
Nantucket Cottage Hospital Medical Director Dr. Timothy Lepore was among researchers who discovered a new tick-borne disease. On January 17, Lepore and fellow researchers reported to the New England Journal of Medicine that at least one person from Nantucket has been diagnosed with the disease. This is the first time in the United States that a person has been infected with a bacterium known as Borrelia miyamotoi.
Evidence of the disease was discovered in 18 patients in New England and New York, including the patient from Nantucket.
The disease is so new that it doesn't have a name yet.
Dr. Lepore is Medical Director and Chief of Surgery at Nantucket Cottage Hospital. He has practiced on Nantucket since 1983 and is a graduate of Harvard College and Tufts University School of Medicine. Lepore's research interests include thrombophlebitis and tick-borne diseases. He has published multiple articles in these two areas in collaboration with researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, Tufts University School of Medicine and Yale School of Public Health.
"Like a certain fictional ship's captain obsessed with
a great white whale, Lepore is out to conquer another
of nature's leviathans: the wily tick."
- Pam Belluck, Island Practice: Cobblestone Rash, Underground Tom and
Other Adventures of a Nantucket Doctor, PublicAffairs books, 2012
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A Note from Dr. Margot Hartmann, President & CEO
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Margot Hartmann, MD, PhD
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I find the beginning of each year a good time to reflect on all we accomplished over the previous year. The year 2012 was filled with great milestones achieved and challenges being met head-on. Our hospital, like most hospitals around the country, is working hard to combat the national shortage of primary care physicians. Our unique situation of being 30 miles out at sea, coupled with a high cost of living, makes this issue especially challenged for NCH.
We continued our commitment to all residents of Nantucket with the June expansion of MD ACKcess. Thanks to this initiative, patients who need non-emergency but urgent medical attention can get an appointment to see a primary care clinician within 24 hours. We are dedicated to making sure every resident's health needs are being met, and plans are underway to increase primary care further. We also welcome family practitioner Dr. Nicole Steinmuller and surgeon Dr. Richard Koehler to our hospital this year, and we look forward to increasing our staff of physicians in 2013.
Thanks to these efforts, I'm proud to report that the waiting list for assignment to a primary care physician has decreased from a high of 200 people to approximately 30 over the last six months - an 85% reduction. Through MD ACKcess, our clinicians were able to care for patients within a day or two, allowing many patients not in need of emergency care to circumvent the ER.
I understand the frustration that's present when it comes to the shortage of primary care physicians. However, I'm extremely pleased with the headway that was made during 2012. Each of you has my promise that we will make it through this shortage until the waitlist reads zero.
There are many great things on the horizon for our hospital, and I look forward to having each of you along for the ride, each step of the way.
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Margot Hartmann, MD, PhD
President & CEO
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Nantucket Cottage Hospital Scores #10 out of 176
As rated by our patients, Nantucket Cottage Hospital scores #10 out of 176 New England hospitals. NCH posted the highest communication score among the Top 20 hospitals listed, with 93% of our patients saying that their doctor always communicated well with them, compared to the national average of 81%. We also scored an impressive 88% of our patients saying they always received help when they asked, compared to the national average of 66%. To see the full results, please click here.
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February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. and kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. Coronary heart disease often affects sufferers as a heart attack. The chance of developing coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control risk factors. Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attack are crucial to experiencing the most positive outcome.
To dispel the myth that heart disease is a "man's disease," the American Heart Association created Go Red for Women - a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.
Nantucket Cottage Hospital and the American Heart Association encourage men and women to wear red on Friday, February 1, as a way to raise awareness for heart disease.
Nantucket Cottage Hospital offers several programs and services to support a healthy heart. For health tips from Katie DeHertogh, a member of our Cardiac Rehabilitation Services Department, click here.
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 Native Reunion Celebration An Afternoon of Enchantment
Join us for a healthy lunch and lots of crafts, games and fun! Sunday, February 3, 2013 Noon - 2:00 pm Nantucket Cottage Hospital
Join Jess Douglas, honorary event chair and NCH maternity nurse, for the annual celebration of children born at Nantucket Cottage Hospital. All babies born at NCH since 2008 and their siblings 12 and under are invited to attend, accompanied by an adult.
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Free Event: Food for Thought Lecture Series
With Dr. Margot Hartmann, President & CEO,
Dr. Richard Koehler & Dr. Nicole Steinmuller
Thursday, February 7, 2013
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street
Join Nantucket Cottage Hospital and the Nantucket Historical Association at the Whaling Museum on Thursday, February 7, for an informative and entertaining brown bag lunch. Dr. Margot Hartmann, President & CEO, will speak of recent developments at the hospital and will introduce Nantucket's newest physicians - Dr. Nicole Steinmuller and Dr. Richard Koehler.
Presented by the Nantucket Historical Association, this free weekly program explores the theme of "Nantucketers Taking ACKtion" and features speakers from Nantucket, Cape Cod and beyond.
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Thom Koon-Cosgrove Grateful Patient
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Thom and Bart Koon-Cosgrove
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Co-owner, The Hair Concern, Nantucket
"In March of this year, I slipped on my deck and broke my wrist. I went immediately to NCH's Emergency Room, where they efficiently did what was necessary to assess the situation, control my pain and stabilize my injury. They contacted [orthopedics specialist] Dr. Rocco Monto, who saw me early the next morning. After reading my X-rays and examining my wrist, he fully and clearly explained the surgery I'd require. He also answered my many questions about the surgery itself, post-op treatment, recovery time and rehab. Although I considered other options, I decided to go with Dr. Monto. It was, as it turned out, a good decision. I've been very satisfied with his surgery's outcome and my speedy recovery. Many thanks to NCH and especially to Dr. Monto and his staff."
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Keep in Touch
Contact us. Reply to this email with any comments or suggestions you have about our hospital. We'd love to hear from you and get your opinions.
Stay informed. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.   
Take a tour. Join hospital administrators every other Tuesday at 3:30 pm for a top-to-bottom tour of Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Visit patient rooms, learn about new equipment and get a sneak peek into most areas of our island's only hospital. Ask questions about the future of the building and how we're transforming health care every day. Call 508-825-8250 to reserve a spot on an upcoming tour.
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Nantucket Cottage Hospital is an affiliate of Massachusetts General Hospital
and a member of Partners HealthCare
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