There was a time when I would recognize the names of women who had called a
few years back, and actually remember something about them. Now, despite the
fact that I don't have lots of clients at a time, I'm hard pressed to
remember someone I did a consult with a week ago. This is really
frustrating, but I just make sure I keep good notes, and put their names in
my Rolodex. The complicating factor the past year has been that I deliver a
lactation support service in 3 health centres (all small, in a rural area,
ranging from 50 babies a year to about 200), and I don't have my Rolodex
with me. I'm trying to devise some alternate way of keeping track, and it
may just need to be as simple as a notebook, although I'd prefer to do it on
my laptop somehow, without getting into making a database. Sigh, I really do
complicate things sometimes!

The phrases suggested by others have been very helpful. I often just joke
about my horrendous memory and run for the Rolodex, if I'm in my usual
office. I also have a Case Log which helps me keep track of clients.

I loved Kathe's comments about her wonderful filing/tracking system that she
didn't even remember teaching to one of the Leader Applicants from her LLL
Group. I can definitely relate to that memory loss thing... If I leave the
house for a day at one of the health centres without printing out the
Day-Timer page, I might as well come home again.

Does anyone use a contact management program like Maximizer or Act!? I tried
a couple of times but wasn't very good at keeping it current. (I realize
this is getting off breastfeeding--sorry--but it does affect how we do our
work.)

Leslie Ayre-Jaschke, BEd, IBCLC
Peace River, Alberta, Canada