Hi to all
I do the stats at our hospital for Breastfeeding,  I also keep track of what
kind of problems we see, mastitis, sore nipples,  yeast, FTT etc. Also log how
long each phone call and length of consult.
And by the way when JCAHO came calling they were impressed with our stats.The
reviewer grilled me about 10-15 minutes on our lactation program, but loved my
graphs and charts showing our work.I had a feeling that every hospital
henceforth  with a LC program were going to be grilled on their stats  and how
they justified the work of L.C's. It sure looks good when the numbers are in
black and white and the breastfeeding rates increase with lactation consultants.
Also our outpatient consult rate has really increased after I did a "talk" at
Peds Comm. and gave them graphs and charts.
1996 Stats Breastfeeding         Births           Phone consults  Outpatient
consults
Jan               103                   118     165             4
Feb        82           103     192             16
Mar        88           101     211             22
Apr       102           118     274             20

As you can see our outpatient consult rate increased in Feb after my "talk" with
the Peds .Com.   Also last summer I did a random survey and called moms 21 days
after they had been discharged to see who was still breastfeeding and  we  had
84% of mothers who left the hospital breastfeeding were still breastfeeding.  It
is this sort of data that keeps our jobs. Or at least that is MHO.

Jan Aken RN IBCLC
In the cold and rainy Northwest today where the temperature is ony 54 degrees.