Healthcare professionals from the US' Baystate Home Health, which is represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, are set to deliver a petition on 3 February to Baystate president and CEO Peter Banko urging to respond to clinicians' concerns.

The petition, signed by nearly 300 community members, also urges Banko to settle a fair contract and maintain the quality of care for home health patients.

In a letter to the CEO, Baystate Home Health clinicians said: “A clinician-led organisation prioritises the feedback and suggestions of its clinicians.

“We have been encouraged by your pledge to stabilise Baystate Health through staff support and improving patient care. In Baystate Home Health, you have an opportunity to immediately fulfil this promise. Please join us in reaching a fair contract agreement that will boost our job satisfaction and empower us to provide high-quality home care.”

The clinicians provide care to a vulnerable population in Springfield's north end, Forest Park, and other financially disadvantaged areas.

Their work aligns with Baystate's community benefits mission, which aims to reduce health disparities and promote wellness while enhancing access to care for priority populations.

The increasing complexity of medical needs treated outside the hospital underscores the importance of the care provided by these clinicians.

However, the ongoing contract negotiations have raised concerns among the staff.

Baystate's proposal to remove health insurance premium cost limits could make healthcare unaffordable for the clinicians themselves.

Additionally, the requirement for clinicians to work five times as many evening hours a year could deter potential staff, exacerbating the issue of non-competitive pay in a market with high demand for healthcare professionals.