Kathleen says,
> I feel that we , as professionals, should also *be* professional about
> this, and arrange our services by appointment. If we are offering 24/7
> coverage, warm line service, etc, payment should proceed according to this
> new arrangement, with remuneration being more for expanded hours of
> service, etc. Just my vote on how to make the IBCLC profession more
> "professional, " and DOABLE for those involved. The trick is to get away
> from thinking that it is a volunteer service, and not really one that
> deserves payment, as this does us all a disservice.
>
>
I'd be interested to know how many hospitals (especially in the US) do NOT
have an IBCLC on staff.  Here in the Chicago area, I think we are
particularly blessed because most of them do -- at least in the Western
Suburbs where I live.  When I started in "The Biz" 16 years ago, only one
hospital had one part-time LC.  Now most have at least one or more.  I'm
particularly fortunate to work with several terrific IBCLCs at the hospital
where I see moms & babes for our pediatric practice.

My point is, I think these moms should be calling the LCs at the hospital
where they delivered rather than calling a number off the web -- if your
number is there, goodness knows what kind of calls you could get and at what
time of day or night!  I agree w/ Kathleen that phone calls take away from
your family time, your own time (precious little that there is), and most
frequently you need to see the mom/baby to adequately deal with the problem
at hand.

And I don't want calls at 3:00 am asking me what to do w/ a crying baby!
Or how if they can feed the bottle of EBM that was pumped 2 weeks ago,
frozen, taken out of the freezer on Tuesday afternoon, warmed, put back in
the fridge cuz punkin didn't want it, was given to him again on Tuesday
evening where he took 1.5 ounces, and now it is Wednesday am and can mom
still use that -- and by the way, could the fussiness be related to the pizza
she had for dinner and what do I think of taking Claritin for her cold?

Uh uh.  Nope -- no way.  Half the time w/ these strange calls (I'm on the
Medela help line and occasionally I'll get these calls -- not often), I have
to refer them on to an IBCLC nearer to them anyway.

You can say when you pick up the phone that you charge $1.00 or $2.00/minute
and you will bill her -- the first thing then you ask is name, address &
phone number and then keep track of the minutes.  But I still think doing
much in the way of phone is treading on shaky ground if you don't know the
mom and have never seen her.

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC -- Wheaton IL-- Where it is finally thinking about
sun -- but it's still awfully cold for June 1!!
Lactation Education Consultants
www.lactationeducationconsultants.com

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