In the adult primary care wing at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, computers and charts line the walls of a busy, narrow, central hallway. In the offices, up to three doctors work at desks in separate corners of the same room.

“It’s become a bit of a squeeze,” said the department’s new chairman Dr. Steven Feder, who relocated to the Island from Maine in September.

But for the main provider of primary care to year-round Islanders, a cramped space is a positive sign of growth.

Four new doctors recently signed on to work in the department full time. The patient waiting list, which numbered close to 500 about a year ago, is gone. In December, the hospital achieved accreditation in the patient-centered medical home model, a new approach focused on delivering comprehensive coverage — including mental health care — through a team of providers. And demolition work is underway to build 19 new exam rooms and a new waiting area in vacated space that once was part of the Windemere nursing home.

Hospital CEO Denise Schepici has made primary care improvements a priority.

Mark Alan Lovewell

Hospital CEO Denise Schepici has made primary care improvements a priority.

Mark Alan Lovewell

“I think we’ve come a long way in a year,” hospital president and chief executive officer Denise Schepici said.

With the new hires, the primary care department now includes nine full-time adult and family practice physicians, four full-time pediatricians, and five nurse practitioners.

Ms. Schepici, who took the helm in January 2018, said attracting new doctors to primary care has been a priority. She said she has offered competitive salaries, achievement incentives and stipends, and forgivable loans for housing to find new physicians.

“I think it’s an attractive package for a young physician coming here. And then there’s the Island, people love the Island factor,” Ms. Schepici said.

Three new full-time doctors arrived in September. Dr. Feder is a pediatrician who worked at the hospital on a per diem basis for several years. Dr. Amar Luzic studied at the hospital under the former primary care department chairman. Dr. Scott Simmons has a focus on sports medicine. A fourth, Dr. Aletheia Donahue, arrived in March after practicing in New York. Another physician, Dr. Hugh Harwood, plans to expand his practice from 10 months a year to year-round. While it has seen growth, the primary care department is not without turnover. Longtime department chairman Dr. Nieder retired last winter, and Dr. Michael Michotek left abruptly last fall, sparking some public concern. Ms. Schepici said she is confident the department has reached a plane of stability.

Dr. Amar Luzic (right) with Georgetown medical student Sydney Karnovsky.

Mark Alan Lovewell

Dr. Amar Luzic (right) with Georgetown medical student Sydney Karnovsky.

Mark Alan Lovewell

“The whole medical staff is starting to gel more as a medical staff because, guess what, they’re not all transients anymore,” she said. She noted that physicians’ families are also settling in the Vineyard community. The spouse of one new doctor works at the West Tisbury School and another is a pharmacist at the hospital.

Ms. Schepici said she plans to add two more doctors to the department. She will begin recruiting for one in the fall and hopes to hire another in 2021.

Alongside the acquisition of new doctors and more patients, Ms. Schepici said the department continues to evolve its approach to care with the goal of becoming more comprehensive and accessible.

A new electronic records system aligned with Massachusetts General Hospital allows for streamlined communication with specialists off-Island. Pediatrics and adult primary care services are now managed as one continuous department. Expanded hours and new pediatric walk-in hours are also planned.

Ms. Schepici said she aims to include more social services and behavioral health care as well as part of primary care. Dr. Feder said that will include increased collaboration with Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. Dr. Ruth Barron, a psychiatrist, will join the primary care department three days a week beginning this summer. Ms. Schepici plans to introduce case management as well.

“Dr. Barron is just one step in the integration. The bigger steps are going to come over the next year or two so we have more social work services right in primary care,” Ms. Schepici said.

Estimated $4.2 million renovation of vacated space in the Windemere nursing home will become a new primary care wing.

Mark Alan Lovewell

Estimated $4.2 million renovation of vacated space in the Windemere nursing home will become a new primary care wing.

Mark Alan Lovewell

With so many changes and more on the horizon, there is presently one major barrier. “Literally there is no place to put these people,” Ms. Schepici said. “We’re already doubling up and tripling up offices.”

To remedy the space issue the hospital recently began an estimated $4.2 million renovation to add a new primary care wing in vacated space in the Windemere nursing home. Plans for the new facilities are finished and demolition is underway, with a goal of moving adult primary care services into the new offices by the end of the year. Meanwhile, Dr. Feder said new patients are being added to the practice every week. Prospective new patients are asked to pick up a registration packet at the hospital and return it to the office in order to be matched with a doctor.

“The things I’m really trying to work hard on would be this mindset of having a family care model here and caring for our patients as we would care for our own families, but also trying to make access easier,” Dr. Feder said. “Truly one of my visions is to have this be looked at as a family care center, a shared practice.”

New patients seeking a primary care doctor at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital can pick up paperwork in the physicians wing of the hospital. Patients can expect a call in one to two weeks to schedule a new patient appointment with an assigned physician. Sick patients will be given priority.