It certainly is frustrustrating that so many lactation advocates, like Lynne, are trying to acquire the hours and training they need, to no avail. A hospital administrator told the one willing-to-mentor IBCLC that HIPAA was a stumbling block to such an arrangement. Phooey. The Mentor can have the Trainee sign a "business associate agreement" with her, in which the Trainee agrees to abide by all the privacy protections required of the Mentor and Hospital by HIPAA (and the IBLCE Code of Ethics, to boot). This is standard HIPAA procedure. There are dozens of situations where a third party (who is not a direct employee of the hospital) has a legitimate right to be in the hospital, and bumping into all that private information about patients. For example, some institutions hire biling and coding experts to come in and work their computer magic ... or electricians to fix the lights ... or childbrith educators to teach a class. These people all fulfill an important functions to keep the institution running smoothly ... they just have to promise to keep mum about any of the patients. And that is what a HIPAA business associate contract is designed to do: get you to promise, in writing, to keep mum. Liz Brooks, JD, IBCLC - who spoke on HIPAA and the IBCLC at ILCA 2004 Wyndmoor, PA, USA _________________________________________________________________ Is your PC infected? Get a FREE online computer virus scan from McAfeeŽ Security. http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html