Oh, Linda... That does not sound too good...
The situation is painful and is potentially detrimental for everyone
involved - kids, staff, hospital itself.
Agree with Liz's suggestions BUT - that may depend on the hospital
structure and affiliation and it just may happen (disclaimer alert - I
am only stipulating, as no information was given to support my
assumptions) that by hiring this particular neonatologist the hospital
was looking into some support from MJ. Nothing unheard of :(.
Would joining ABM help? Don't know, as we are most probably dealing with
a case of industry supported fanaticism and fundamentalism, thus the
probability of such docs coming out the "artificial milks dark side" is
pretty low. But never say never, we can always try "therapy" by ABM
and/or SOBr. Said that - may be promoting ABM and SOBr to other doctors
in the hospital will work better and more efficiently?
Meanwhile, while trying to work through the administrative channels, may
be it can be a good idea to assess what allies do you have in the
hospital - other neonatologists? pediatricians? GI docs? What about your
community? Is your hospital affiliated with any University? Am I right
assuming that you have only SCN?
What about doing grand rounds on the topic? As long as your department
of pediatric chief will go for it... Or even having the "supplementation
debate" with one of the many great speakers that we do have in ABM. That
can be an interesting event BTW, I would like to a fly on the wall for
this one ;D. Talking seriously - this is exactly the reason why we
started to work on the ABM's speakers bureau project. And if any of your
community docs is a member of the AAP's SOBr - they can even apply for
the 2015 Breastfeeding Lectureship grant (the deadline is in February)
and then bring a lecturer INTO THE COMMUNITY hopefully without
interference of the hospital. As we speak neonatologists are literally
lining up to participate in this project of promoting the use of human
milk in NICUs.
Journal clubs, nursing conferences, breastfeeding coalition meetings,
utilizing the IL AAP chapter (do you need contact info?) - all can serve
as alternative avenues for education and promotion of the "breastfeeding
force".
Another opportunity (in addition to the above active-aggressive
measures) is to utilize the passive-aggressive approach as well.
Evidence based medicine is on your side and while nobody wants anything
negative to happen in your nursery - it can be worth it to review data
the past several years and to compare it with the data after (if the
worst will come to worst) the changes were made. Again, nobody want
anything bad to happen and you will be doing everything possible to
prevent problems, BUT - if anything will even try to go not as good as
it should be - document, document, document.
I'd bet it will be a lot of even better suggestions on and off the list.
Keep us updated and (going along the Star Wars theme in this post ;D)
may be LactNet force be with you!
Alla
--
Alla Gordina, MD, IBCLC, FAAP
General Pediatrics
Breastfeeding Medicine
Adoption and Foster Care Medicine
Global Pediatrics and Family Medicine
NJ Breastfeeding Medicine Education Initiative
NJ Chapter Breastfeeding Co-Coordinator, American Academy of Pediatrics
Satellite Symposia Sub-Committee Chair, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
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