GREENFIELD — Registered nurses of Baystate Franklin Medical Center will join the Greenfield residents’ group Community Health Care Initiative today to discuss ways to encourage hospital owner Baystate Health to keep health care local and safe.

The forum starts at 6 p.m. in Greenfield High School’s cafeteria.

The collaboration between community members and nurses represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association is meant to integrate the community’s concerns about the future of health care in Greenfield into upcoming BFMC nurse contract negotiations, according to a press release from the group.

“We are very excited to have the community as a partner in our efforts to ensure safe patient care at Baystate Franklin Medical Center,” said Donna Stern, a psychiatric nurse and chairwoman of the hospital’s RN Bargaining Committee. “As committed caregivers and members of this community, we look forward to working with our community allies to ensure patients have access to the health care services they need right here in Franklin County.”

Nurses received tremendous community support during a nurse contract campaign three years ago that included a one-day strike as nurses fought to ensure patient safety and maintain basic nurse practice protections, according to the release.

The Community Health Care Initiative formed following a public forum in March 2013.

A group of Greenfield residents concerned about the future of their hospital created the group to serve as an advocacy organization for better and expanded services at Baystate Franklin, according to the release, and out of concern about services moving to Springfield.

The group’s advocacy, according to the release, combined with the nurses’ ongoing efforts, resulted in the restoration of some health care services and a commitment by Baystate Health to meet with community representatives on a regular basis.

“The public forum on Thursday is an opportunity for the entire community to get behind a renewed effort to keep our health care services local and safe,” said CHCI member Nina Thayer. “Community members and our nurses share a mutual commitment to making Baystate Franklin Medical Center one of the best rural community hospitals in the nation.”

Baystate Franklin recently completed a new surgical wing to expand and improve surgical services at the hospital. It opened in June.

You can reach Tom Relihan at: 413-772-0261, ext 264
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