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Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 30 Oct 2000 07:58:37 EST
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Loni writes of a common barrier to breastfeeding that mothers encounter in
the hospital. Health care professionals who are not current in breastfeeding
management are a risk to continued breastfeeding. One of the most successful
ways I have seen to help those you work with become part of the team is to
use your hospital system. When you want to make changes it is best not to go
it alone. Writing an open letter to the health care providers is a set up for
disaster! Think about going to your Quality Improvement Department and
request that breastfeeding care and services become an issue to be studied
and improved. They like to improve patient care since JCAHO requires them to
show improvement each time the hospital is assessed. Go to them with patient
satisfaction surveys where patients have complained about the inconsistent
information given to them. If you have not done a mother survey regarding
breastfeeding information, consider doing this before you approach anyone.
You need the data first! Contact your risk management people and ask what
liability the hospital has for the inconsistent and incorrect information
given to their patients. Contact your hospital ethics committee and ask if it
is ethical for health care providers in your institution to base their care
on something other than evidence-based practice. How ethical is it for temper
tantrums and whining to influence patient care. Where are the breastfeeding
policies?

Change is difficult and it is a process that takes time and careful planning.
One lone lactation consultant writing a letter is doomed from the start!
Everyone must feel that they own the change and the outcomes. The letter will
go straight to the circular file! You might even wish to conduct focus groups
with mothers who have previously delivered at your hospital so that you have
the evidence of what poor breastfeeding care and services causes.

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA

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