"My own personal answer to this conflict was to cease equipment sales
and
rentals in my practice while encouraging area durable medical equipment
companies to initiate or broaden breastfeeding product lines.  Now I
refer
clients to several area companies for equipment."

The flip side to this is who sits down with the mom and teaches her to
use the equipment? most DME rental agencies know nothing about breast
pumps, not in my area anyway.  We have a Medela rental station in our
hospital, I run it and the lactation program in our hospital also. I see
it as more of a service and a convenience for the moms to have easy
access to the needed equipment. The nearest DME rental agency is over an
hour away and they only do the rental, no instructions.  I am under no
pressure from my hospital to perform or to rent a certain number of
pumps each month and how many pumps rented or supplies sold does not
effect my salary. I am paid an hourly wage, so I personally don't feel a
conflict of interest in my situation.

Cindy

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Cindy Curtis , RN, IBCLC  ~ Virginia , USA
ICQ # 412812          mailto:[log in to unmask]
Benefits of Breastfeeding Home Page http://www.erols.com/cindyrn