United States Lactation Consultant Association Announces
Date: August 2010
Contact: Scott Sherwood For immediate release
Tel. 919-861-4543
Email:
United States Lactation Consultant Association issues IBCLCstaffing guidelines for hospitals
Morrisville, NC - The United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) has issued staffing guidelines for IBCLC credentialed lactation consultants in US hospitals. Identifying and maintaining the appropriate number and mix of nursing and specialty staff is critical to the delivery of quality patient care. Numerous studies reveal an association between the availability of IBCLC lactation consultants and improved breastfeeding outcomes in patients who are nursing their newborns.Patients should receive resources according to their needs from clinicians with the knowledge and expertise to safely and adequately deliver these services. Busy maternity units, minimal nurse staffing, and lack of specialized knowledge conspire to often prevent the breastfeeding mother from receiving the level and type of care needed to successfully breastfeed her infant. The IBCLC lactation consultant is credentialed to deliver specialized services, much like a diabetes nurse educator, physical therapist, dietitian or other allied health provider. Short hospital stays and mothers and infants with more complex medical histories contribute to the need for lactation consultants to organize and deliver lactation care and services. The new guidelines specify:
- 1.9 FTE (full time equivalents) per 1000 births in hospitals with neonatal intensive care units (Level III hospitals).
- 1.6 FTE (full time equivalents) per 1000 births in hospitals with newborn special care units (Level II hospitals), and
- 1.3 FTE (full time equivalents) per 1000 births in hospitals with standard maternity units (Level I hospitals)
The complete document is available at http://uslca.org/documents/Staffing%20Statement/IBCLC_Staffing_Recommendations_July_2010.pdf.
USLCA president, Laurie Beck, RN, MSN, IBCLC says, "Appropriate lactation consultant staffing will help hospitals meet the Joint Commission's new Perinatal Core Measure set that includes measuring the number of exclusively breastmilk fed infants at discharge. Sufficient lactation consultants will also improve hospitals' scores on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) Survey - a winning outcome for mothers, babies, and hospitals."
Knowledgeable professional breastfeeding support can be obtained from lactation consultants with the IBCLC credential (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). To locate lactation consultant for assistance with breastfeeding go to www.uslca.org.
Mission: To build and sustain a national association that advocates for lactation professionals
Vision: IBCLCs are valued recognized members of the health care team.
The United States Lactation Consultant Association (ULSCA), is organized exclusively for the advocacy of Lactation Professionals.