Hi Everyone,

Just when life seem very routine, it throws you a curve. Our Lacation Center
has been given the go ahead to look forward to opening an outpatient
"clinic" as a fee for service operation. We also may begin billing for
inpatient consultations as well. This was decided as we have become terribly
overwhelmed with the case load with just 2.7 FTE's .  We see 300-350 moms
per month on maternity and speak with another 200-230 telephone clients, run
a retail center and see consults and do PPHV's. At this time we have no
secretarial support, either.

I know this is a mixed blessing, as a hate to go totally on charging. OTOH
it is really time to advance our profession and stop giving things away.
Aren't we like the respiratory therapists, occupational therapists,
dieticians who all now charge for their services?

Please e-mail me privately with your repsonses on how you are doing charging
for inpatients and outpatient.s. We might establish the outpatient portion
at a nearby freestanding surgicenter and health care "mall". We are
wondering if more sucessful billing would occur if we named a "medical
director" or if reimbursement occurs well  without a physician name. I thnk
if we get the ball rolling in our geographic area, other hospiitals will
follow.

We are also restarting our support group :)  since LLL in our area has not
been as widely available as they once were. In addition with the recent PEDS
journal focusing on the Baby - Friendly Hosptial Initaive in Boston, and
them  winning a UN award, our department chair would like an AD HOC
Committee formed to see how and if we can measure up to those standards, and
if not why not.

Wow do we have our work to do! Any an all input would be grateful. Glad to
be working with SOME physicians who are supportive and an administration who
also tries to be!

Warmly,
LuAnn Smith RN, IBCLC
York, PA

P.S. Congratulations to all the new IBCLC's. I'm going on year 12 as
one....may your own careers be as rewarding and amazing as mine has been.


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