JOB SUMMARY:
The Lactation Consultant provides patient and family-centered lactation support services based upon his/her specialty training, through an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach. S/he assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates lactation plans for the breastfeeding/chest-feeding dyad and the pumping parent and collaborates fully with the health care team. S/he additionally serves as a resource for providers and patients who may be located at other Chase Brexton sites.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Analytical and Critical Thinking
- Provides lactation assessment, management, education and instruction in the form of prenatal education and postpartum consultative care.
- Assists patients in the process of obtaining a breast pump, if needed.
- Provides services designed to meet the individual patient’s needs in terms of literacy, preferred language.
- Designs her intervention to meet the patient’s goals with regard to breastfeeding/lactation.
- Assesses for barriers and assets in a patient’s social and emotional environment that are likely to affect lactation outcomes.
Patient Focus
- Demonstrates professionalism and integrity in all aspects of patient care.
- Effectively engages patients in their care.
- Addresses patient concerns brought up during visit, and documents assessment and plan for these concerns.
- Integrates lactational interventions within the larger OB team to ensure that biopsychosocial concerns are addressed.
- Follows up with patients to evaluate efficacy of interventions and address any ongoing needs.
Teamwork
- Fosters a collaborative work environment
- Functions as the primary clinical lactation consultant for CBHC.
- Works with peers to implement improvements to workflow or to the workplace.
- Participates in warm handoffs during prenatal and postpartum visits, when consulted.
- May participate in education during group prenatal visits.
- Works within organization to increase provision of lactation services.
- Participates in interdisciplinary programs to promote and improve lactation support and breastfeeding rates among CBHC patients.
- Participates in internal committees and teams as requested.
Communication
- Returns patient calls within 2 working days. If out of office for a period of time without access to voicemail, informs the primary OB provider of lactational interventions, through flags, problem list up-dates, and/or visit note documentation.
- Informs OB RN and primary OB provider of lactation interventions/plan.
- Informs Perinatal psyc provider of lactation interventions/plan, if applicable.
- Keeps OB team informed of developments in lactation services.
- Provides direction to the organization with respect to lactation services.
- Participates when requested to serve on committees.
- Participates when requested to participate in community activities.
- Participates when requested to be a media contact.
- Reads and responds to e-mail in a timely manner (within 2 working days), unless out of office indicates otherwise
Checking, Examining, and Recording
- Bills all encounters.
- Maintains complete and comprehensive documentation.
- Consistently completes progress notes of patient encounters by end of the next business day.
Workplace Computers and Equipment
- Utilizes EMR resources to manage patient care, including flags and referrals.
- Uses “out of office” functions in EMR, Outlook, and phone system to make staff aware of absences.
Compliance, Policy, and Procedure
- Keeps current with respect to organizational policies and procedures, and puts them into practice.
Willingness to Learn
- Takes active steps to keep current in new developments within the field of lactation
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- In-depth knowledge of lactation assessments and interventions
- Strong communication, research, presentation, and creative skills
- Basic navigation knowledge of electronic medical record applications such as CPS 12 and ability to learn new computer skills
- Maintain sensitivity to religious, ethnic and cultural differences in others and show respect and empathy
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
- Required: Active Board Certified International Board Certified Lactation Consultant certification (IBCLC)
- 1+ years’ experience as a lactation consultant
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