In a message dated 97-04-09 19:11:18 EDT, you write:

<<  I got onto the mother's call-in hotline, the "Healthy Mother, Healthy
Baby Dept". I had been told that nurses in that dept monitored outcomes. So I
asked to speak to one such person. I wanted to suggest that they do a study
of outcomes in common
 childhood diseases such as otitis media comparing exclusively breastfed,
 partially breastfed and abm-fed infants. I suggested that the findings could
lead them to significant money savings. i.e. support  BF & cover LC services
and save on medical costs for these children. I was told that I should PUT MY
IDEAS INTO THE FORM OF A PROPOSAL  and send it to them. >>

Margot,
This is fabulous!!!  Writing a proposal isn't difficult.  You can get the
format from any college level technical writing course.  What a great
idea!!!!    They already know how to extrapolate the data,  they already pay
for the workers to collect the data. You don't have to think of this as a
research project....but do share the data with all.  This would be a great
article.  post me if you need some direction, I've written several
proposals...two that got me great jobs!!!!  Liz Flight, RN, CLE, IBCLC