Subject:  Hospital based LC Proposal
From:  Tina Johnson RN, BSN IBCLC

        Thank you to those who responded to helping me receive some
mentoring in Brisbane.

         Currently I am faced with what (I am sure) is nothing new to many
of you.  I am an RN in a small private community hospital birthing unit
(located in Hawaii).  I am the only LC available to the patients and staff
and thus find I am doing my job as well as everyone else's; when it comes
to "latching on"... or "problem" breastfeeding patients.  I love helping
those in need but also find my job as a perinatal nurse becoming more
difficult.        My ideal is to write a proposal to change my job
description to an Lactation Consultant within the hospitals point of view
and try to get outpatients seen within our unit as an added service thus
receive reimbursements.    Presently I have the support of peds, who refer
patients to me, then I make a housecall.  All private pay  This is not cost
or time effective and reimbursement is a problem through insurance
companies.  Partly due to my own lack of experience in this area.

        I would like to know from you how you were able to convince your
institution that an LC was needed and would be cost effective.(Let's face
it, money usually is the bottom line)  What are your duties and how does
your reimburse work for outpatients as well as inpatients.  How many days a
week do you work.  Do you work on call or carry a beeper for emergencies.
Do you rent pumps or recommend having a pump rental station?

        I know we have the space in our unit to devote one room to a
*clinic* per say.   And I would like to offer this space to lactating staff
who need to use a pump or nurse their babies.  This room could be used as a
lactation resource center for all staff and new moms.

        I would imagine this is a familiar song and dance to more than a
few LC's and am asking for your advice/ recommendations and help or what
ever you have to offer, if you have "been there and done that" proposal
routine. Thanks!

        Please contact me via my husbands account privately or via lactnet.
Feeling a bit burned out in Brisbane, but WILL return to work empowered,
refreshed and more educated!
Tina

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Richard Johnson                            Tel: 61 7 3864 3568
School of Early Childhood                  Fax: 61 7 3864 3989
Queensland University of Technology        email: [log in to unmask]
Kelvin Grove Campus    Locked Bag No. 2
Red Hill  Queensland 4059
Australia

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