#United States #Springfield #Community Forum #Mercy Medical Center #Family Life Center

Mercy Medical Center Nurses Host Forum on Family Life Center Closure

The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) is calling on the community to engage in discussions regarding the alarming announcement made by Mercy Medical Center about the temporary closure of its Family Life Center (FLC), effective December 8. This virtual community forum, slated for November 20, 2025, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, aims to highlight the severe implications this decision has on maternity care within Springfield and the greater Western Massachusetts area.

The closure has raised significant concerns among local families relying on the FLC for critical maternity services. Nurses and healthcare professionals wish to inform and mobilize the community about how to advocate for the reestablishment of these essential healthcare provisions. The event will be held over Zoom and is intended to facilitate a thorough understanding of what the closure means for patient care in the region and how residents can take steps to protect their access to vital health services.

Key Details of the Virtual Forum:

• - Date: November 20, 2025
• - Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
• - Platform: Zoom
• - Registration Link: Mass Nurses Forum

Forum Objectives

The gathering will address several pressing issues related to the FLC's closure:

1. Impacts on Patient Care: Attendees will hear firsthand from nurses about the potential risks that mothers, newborns, and families face should maternity services be eliminated from the FLC.
2. Community Implications: The forum will also reflect on how the closure could exacerbate existing disparities in maternal health access, particularly among marginalized communities in Western Massachusetts.
3. Accountability and Action: Participants will learn practical ways to demand transparency from Mercy Medical Center and the Department of Public Health while encouraging a specific reopening date for the FLC.
4. Regional Concerns: Discussions will cover the broader ramifications of the hospital's decision, including talks about a potential sale to Baystate Health and its impact on local healthcare services.

Importance of the Family Life Center

The Family Life Center has long been a cornerstone of community healthcare, providing safe and high-quality care for mothers and newborns.

• - The designation of this closure as “temporary” raises alarms, as such closures often lead to permanent removals of essential services.
• - Reports indicate that Mercy is proceeding with layoffs of FLC staff, signaling a troubling trend that could jeopardize the availability of maternity care long-term.
• - Nurses assert that poor management practices and a lack of adequate investment in healthcare resources are at the root of this crisis, making community advocacy more integral than ever.

Nurse and Community Voices

Jaime Hyatt, co-chair of the MNA Bargaining Committee at Mercy, voiced the frustration and urgency of this matter:
"Mercy didn’t find itself in this situation overnight. There’s been a consistent failure to address staffing shortages and provide competitive wages, which undermines our mission to deliver optimal care."

Co-chair Dee Doyle adds, "Our aim is to empower the community to come together and advocate for maintaining essential health services. We're looking to ensure that local voices are heard in decisions affecting their wellbeing."

As the community gears up for this informative forum, it becomes increasingly clear that residents play a vital role in the fight for accessible, reliable maternity care. The MNA invites everyone to attend and collaborate in safeguarding their healthcare rights.

To join the conversation on social media, follow Massachusetts Nurses Association on Facebook and Twitter. Together, they emphasize the necessity of active community participation in shaping the healthcare landscape.

For media inquiries, reach the Massachusetts Nurses Association at Contact Information.