I find it interesting that some IBCLCs are not allowed priviledges in the
hospital because they aren't on staff or are not a nurse or whatever.  Where
is this happening?   I had a private practice here some years ago and was
allowed in two of the hospitals when request was made by patient, nursing
staff, or physician.  My priviledges were granted after my request at one
hospital and after a physician requested it at another.  However, after one
of the hospitals started their own lactation center, I no longer went there.
My practice moved to the hospital that now employs me.  As a private
practitioner, I did not like seeing inpatients since they were often too
overwhelmed to learn much on the first go-around and since the majority of my
no pays came from inpatients.  As a private practitioner, I preferred to see
mothers sometime after discharge but during the first week or so.  They were
able to understand care plan options better and they were more likely to pay
for the lactation services.

A private practioner may best be served by having cards or brochures
available in the hospital to be given to BF mothers and having the same
available in physician offices and in childbirth classes.

Pardee H. Hinson, MPH, IBCLC
Charlotte, NC