This is marketing - plain and simple, bald-faced marketing. It smacks of the
vendors hawking trinkets at the entrance to the circus tent. Would they do
something similar for people who recently had a colostomy or been diagnosed
with diabetes? I doubt it.
Following the colostomy analogy, one hospital I worked for treated patients
this way: all new colostomy patients got a long (1:1) class from the
hospital's (properly trained) colostomy educator, instruction on how to care
for their new colostomy, a list of what supplies they'd need and several
places to purchase them in the community, and a scheduled follow-up a few
days later to see how they were coping with their condition. The educator
covered the emotional aspects as well as practical. The educator
demonstrated several brands of supplies because the hospital only provided
enough to get them through about 24 hours after discharge. I think spouses
and families were strongly urged to attend the class.
Feel free to share these ideas.

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre
Dayton, OH USA
http://www.bflrc.com

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