NANTUCKET – Around 500 people toured the brand new Nantucket Cottage Hospital in two open house events last week.
The hospital is in its final stages of construction and just over a month away from a grand opening.
The open house sessions were split, with one designated for employees and the other the general public. Those who participated were able to get a first look at the 106,000-square-foot, $89 million facility.
“It was actually a really nice event. We had about 500 people come through the new hospital just to get a look at what we’ve been doing,” said hospital Public Information Officer Jason Graziadei.
“Everyone has seen the building go up from the outside, so it was just a good opportunity to let the community see what the building is going to look like, and get in and explore and see what’s new with the different capabilities we’ll have in the new hospital.”
Graziadei says approximately 150 births and 60,000 to 70,000 emergency room, inpatient and outpatient visits on an annual basis.
About 250 people currently work at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, which Graziadei says could rise when moved into the new building.
“At this point we are very close to opening the new building. We are planning to open up for patient care on February 20. We’re just over a month away from bringing in our first patient and transferring patients from the old hospital to the new. Then we’ll be beginning sort of a new era in the new hospital and the start of the decommissioning of the old building,” Graziadei explained.
The new facility, adjacent to the current hospital, will feature 14 inpatient beds, with four of which designated for the maternity ward. It will have 29 clinical exam rooms for primary care; expanded labor and delivery services; a new heliport landing, a trauma room; five infusion bays for chemotherapy, dialysis, and other related treatments; and 12 emergency examination rooms.
By design, the new building will be able to remain secure and safe through Category 5 hurricane-force winds. Generators, the HVAC system, boilers and other equipment have been placed on the roof to avoid flooding damage.
“Obviously with Nantucket being 30 miles out we’re the only hospital on the island and we need to be open and operational in any weather event,” said Graziadei.
“A big part of the design was making it hurricane resistant up to Miami-Dade County in Florida standards to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. All of the windows and walls and the roof, everything has been designed with that in mind.”
Nantucket Cottage Hospital is an affiliate of Massachusetts General Hospital, and is equipped with the most modern and state-of-the-art medical technology available.
The construction of the new hospital was funded through a capital campaign. That campaign, so far, has raised $116 million.
By TIM DUNN, CapeCod.com News Center
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