In response to Kim's comments about HMO's and Lc's in Northern Calif.  Many
Northern Calif Kaisers do have LC's on staff.  These include Oakland,
Stockton, Hayward, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, San Francisco, South San
Francisco,  Redwood City,  San Rafael, Santa Rosa,  South Sacramento.  Not
only that, we meet regularly to share and discuss breastfeeding at out
respective facilities.  We are planning a region wide CEU day on topics of
breastfeeding this spring/summer and are looking at projects that will
coordinate lactation services at all regional facilities.  Some of us work
just in-pt, some just out-pt, some both.  Some are not official employees
but are "contracted out to for lactation problems".  Many are already
IBCLC, others certified by well known programs and others in process.
Kaiser feels quite strongly about promoting breastfeeding but like many
things in life, change takes time.  Hang in there, Kim!!!!!

Thank you
Christine Palmer, Kaiser SF