Hi Carol,
In response to your questions (below), we used to have a DME (durable medical equipment) function under our umbrella system, but the DME was dissolved about 2 years ago.  We continue to rent pumps from the Breastfeeding Center w/o any problems.  Our biomed dept. checks the pumps each year for basic function/safety, and places a label to indicate each pump has been checked, and when the next check is due.  The only thing we do not do now is the billing of insurance companies.  For moms with insurance that covers the cost of purchase or rental, we contract with an outside DME.  We give out their pump, and they do all the billing and collecting.  We do not get any reimbursement for these insurance pumps (the DME gets the $$), but we do have the convenience of having the pumps right here in the hospital if needed.  We do 1200 births/year.

As for your pedi question: it depends on the MD.  About 1/2 will go out to the room, w/ the chart and anything else they need, and do the exam in the room.  They feel it's easier that way, because they see mom and baby at the same time.  The other 1/2 prefer the baby to be brought to the nursery, particularly those from the larger practices who have more babies to see.  THEY think it's easier to see all the babies in the nursery at once, then go out to see the moms.  They also think the lighting in the nursery is better (though we do have "exam" lights in the rooms).  The pediatricians that go out to the rooms, do not have anyone come with them.  We have private practice docs AND docs hired by the hospital. 

Hope that helps.

Mary Foley RN IBCLC
Melrose, MA





"Hi!
We have recently been told by our Risk Management(Lawyers!) Department 
that we can no longer rent breast pumps or even loan them(We have had a 
great loaner pump program for Moms of babies in NICU who do not have =
insurance and can't afford the rental fee.) They claim that we have to 
be a Durable Medical Equipment Company to rent pumps. We had meetings ad 
naseum with them, but to no avail. Medela has talked with them, but =
again to no avail.I think the durable medical equipment companies have 
complained because it takes away money from them. They charge the =
insurance company $75.
Question number 1:
Are there hospitals out there who rent breast pumps who have had this =
issue and what have you done?
2. Questions number two is:
At your hospital do the pediatricians do baby exams in the patient's =
room or in the nursery?=20
If you do do them in the patient's room, what is the process(does =
someone go with the physician, what equipment do they take, how do they =
do charting?).
What is your annual birth rate.
Do you have private physicians or hospitalists(physicians hired by the =
hospital)"

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