Hi everyone, I've been off Lactnet for several months, and even then didn't
post much (benefited a great deal from all the lurking though), so most of
you won't recognize me. I was a hospital based LC in the midwest before
moving to the west coast (to be nearer my children as they start their
families) this past May. In my previous hospital, the support for my
services was incredible. The hospital footed the bill for my training and
my manager was constantly giving me the encouragement and support that I
needed to develope a good breastfeeding program. Since I left she has taken
over my duties and is doing an excellent job. Unfortunately, the hospital
I've moved to is the complete opposite. I have no support from my manager
and those above her are too concerned with the "expense" of a breastfeeding
clinic to give it any serious consideration. I am starting a campaign,
directed at the MDs and patients, to show the need for my services. I have
"verbal" support from the hospital's clinic staff, many MDs, patients,
nurses, and the health department; but I've been here 6 months now and
still am hitting a brick wall in trying to get a program started. My
ability to even give advice to women calling the OB department (I'm working
as a staff nurse) is restricted by hospital policies.
Before I start writing letters, I want to make sure my information is
correct. Can anyone out there tell me if JCAHO is now, or will in the
future, require some form of breastfeeding support and management in those
hospitals they accredit? I seem to recall reading something along these
lines a while back. If this is true, it would certainly help my case when I
present it to the "powers that be".
Thanks for any help, and it sure is nice to be back in touch with all you
Lactnetters. I need this forum more now than ever before.
Mary A. Banaszewski, RN, IBCLC
mailto:[log in to unmask]
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