The Lactation Consultant in Private Practice: The ABCs of Getting Started: The ABCs of Getting Started / Edition 1

by Linda J. Smith

Overview

So, you think you want to be a lactation consultant, open a private practice, and earn a good living by helping mothers and babies breastfeed? This is the book for you! The Lactation Consultant in Private Practice: The ABCs of Getting Started by Linda J. Smith is a user-friendly orientation and guide to the lactation consultant profession for those interested in running a full-time, profitable, and long-term lactation consultant practice. Author Linda J. Smith presents her original “ABC” sequential format of essential skills necessary to start a successful practice in three balanced sections: Attitude, Business Skills, and Clinical Skills. Each section begins with an overview, contains a “pitfalls and problems” chapter and two examples of successful private practices from around the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763710378
Publisher:	Jones & Bartlett Learning
Publication date:	07/25/2002
Edition description:	1E
Pages:	361
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.82(h) x 0.84(d)

About the Author

Linda J. Smith, MPH, IBCLC, FACCE, FILCA, is a lactation consultant, childbirth educator, author, and international consultant on breastfeeding and birthing issues. She was a founder of IBLCE, founder and past board member of ILCA, and serves on the Unit ed States Breastfeeding Committee. Her diverse background spans five decades of direct education and support for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers in nine cities in the Unit ed States and Canada. She has worked in hospital systems and local and state public health agencies, and supported colleagues with service on related associations’ boards. Linda is an Adjunct Instructor in the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, OH, and has represented ILCA or LLLI to the World Health Organization’s biannual meetings of BFHI Country Coordinators from Industrialized Countries since 2006. Linda is also a consultant to Baby-Friendly USA and INFACT Canada/IBFAN North America. She is currently the owner and director of Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre (BFLRC), whose mission is “Supporting the People Who Support ­Breastfeeding” with lactation education programs, consulting services, and educational resources. BFLRC is on the Internet at www.BFLRC.org. She is the author of four professional textbooks on birth and breastfeeding, author or co-author of 9 articles published in peer-reviewed journals, and co-writer of Sweet Sleep by La Leche League International. She has lectured in 19 countries; her presentations have been translated into 12 languages including Chinese, Russian, and Inuktitut. She co-authored the 2018 WHO-UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative’s Competency Verification Toolkit. Her Lactation Management/Exam Preparation Course is the longest-running course of its kind, the first to be based on the IBLCE Detailed Content Outline, , and has been presented to thousands of students in the past 30 years.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	xiii
	Foreword	xv
	Preface	xxi
	About the Authors	xxv
Part A	Attitude and Acquiring the Lactation Consultant Role: Do You Have What It Takes?	1
1	Overview of Successful Attitudes and Abilities	2
	The Mother-Baby Relationship	4
	The "Rules" for Successfully Providing Breastfeeding Care	4
	Rules and Scope of Practice	5
	The Importance of Breastfeeding	6
	Motivation and Commitment	7
	Time	7
	Money	8
	Image	8
	Summary	9
2	Role Clarification	10
	Introduction	10
	Background of Professional Lactation Education and Assistance/Support	10
	Overlapping Functions of Breastfeeding Care Providers	11
	Education, Titles, and Credentials	15
	Public Protection in Lactation Management	16
	Health Goals	16
	Summary	17
3	Becoming a Lactation Consultant	20
	Academic Preparation	20
	Specific Education in Lactation	21
	Breastfeeding Management Experience	22
	Professional Responsibilities	23
	After Certification, Then What?	25
	Summary	25
4	Pitfalls Related to Attitudes	26
	Isolation	26
	Identifying Too Closely	28
	Zebras versus Horses; We Don't See Normal Any More; Overreacting to Normal	29
	Emotional Aspects, Including Train Wrecks	29
	Ethical Issues, Including Overuse and Underuse of Equipment	30
	Clinical Conflicts with Providers, Mother Support Groups, and Other Sources of Breastfeeding Support	31
	You Won't Get Rich as a Lactation Consultant	33
	Summary	33
5	Advocacy for Breastfeeding	34
	Promotion	34
	Protection	35
	Global and National Initiatives and Organizations	35
	Including Breastfeeding in Other Social or Political Agendas	36
	Summary	36
6	Realities of Private Practice	38
Part B	Business Skills: Operating a PPLC Business	53
7	Overview of Business Skills	54
8	Creating a Business Plan	56
	Needs Assessment	56
	Assessing Your Needs	57
	Your Mission Statement	59
	Your Business Plan	59
	Don't Let Success Ruin Your Life	64
	Summary	65
	Resources	65
9	Legal Considerations	67
	Act Like You Do This for a Living	67
	How to Pick a Lawyer (or Accountant)	68
	Join the International Lactation Consultant Association and Your ILCA Local Affiliate	70
	Get the Insurance You Need	71
	Business License and Zoning Considerations	72
	Sales Taxes and Transaction Privileges	73
	Basic Research on Becoming Self-Employed or Starting a Small Business	73
	If You Work Alone, Are You an Employer?	78
	You've Chosen a Business Entity; What Else Should You Consider?	80
	What Can You Deduct? The Information on Information Forms	81
	Keeping Track of This Paperwork in a Private Practice	84
	Are You Ready?	85
	Summary	85
	Notes	86
	Resources	87
10	Financial Considerations	89
	Financial Forecasting and Planning	90
	Bookkeeping and Accounting	92
	Billing Systems	95
	Picking and Using a CPA	96
	Capital and Operating Expenses	97
	Taxes and Licenses, Including Sales Tax	98
	Equipment Leasing and Purchasing; Vendor Payment Schedules	99
	Pump Rental Stations; Getting Pumps Back	99
	Compensation	101
	Summary	106
	Resources	106
11	Hiring and Managing Staff	107
	Do You Need Help?	107
	My Experience	108
	Finding and Hiring Help	109
	What Can an Employee Do for You?	112
	How Can You Afford Help?	113
	A Professional Lactation Consultant	114
	Volunteers	114
	The Job Application and References	116
	Skills and Requirements for a Clerical Position	116
	Duties and Training	117
	Other Employment Resources	119
	Policy and Procedures	120
	Paying Your Employees	122
	Insurance	126
	Evaluations and Raises	127
	Bringing Children to Work	129
	Summary	131
	Resources	131
12	Information Resource Management, Computers and the PPLC	133
	Using a Computer Should Be Easier Than Not Using a Computer	134
	Why Would You Want a Computer Anyway?	134
	Some Uses for Information Technology in Lactation Consultant Private Practice	136
	Multimedia and Games	136
	The Life Cycle of Electronic Equipment	137
	Do You Need Your Own Private "Geek"?	138
	Getting Ready to Shop	139
	Where to Buy a Computer	141
	Warranties and Service Contracts	143
	An Example Computer "Sale" Bundle	144
	Other Accessories and Services	149
	Choosing Software	153
	Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security Issues	155
	Back to Reality: A Bare-Bones Computerized Practice	156
	Making Friends with Your Computer	156
	Resources	156
13	Promotion and Marketing	157
	Your Corporate Image	157
	Creating a Logo	158
	Identifying Your Target Market	159
	Ideas to Market Your Practice	160
	Use Available Resources	163
	Summary	163
	Resources	164
14	Pitfalls Related to Business	165
	When Good Friendships/Relationships Go Bad	165
	Competition: From Whom? Is It Really Competition?	166
	Holdovers from Volunteer Work, or How to Avoid Giving Away the Farm	167
	Gadgets, Vendor Relationships, and the International (WHO) Code	169
	Third-Party Reimbursement	170
	Other Business-Killers	170
	Can You Really Make a Living by Providing Clinical Services Only?	172
15	Realities of Private Practice	173
	Worksite Lactation Programs: Supporting Breastfeeding in the Workplace	173
	Labor Law and Life's Reality	173
	Breastfeeding Support and Support Bras	174
	Print and Pumps	175
	Governmental and Educational Institutions	175
	Work-Site Breastfeeding Support Also Supports Your Practice	176
	Eve Moeran
	Goals	177
	Experience Counts	177
	Finances	177
	Product	178
	Price	178
	Location	178
	Quality	178
	Lactation Reports	179
	Marketing	179
	The Countdown to Success	179
	Unique Selling Proposition	180
	You Can Never Thank the Client Enough	180
	Bookkeeping	181
	Comments	181
Part C	Managing the Clinical Aspects of Private Practice	183
16	Overview of Clinical Practice	184
17	A Clinical Framework: The ABC Protocol	186
	Introduction	186
Step 1.	Feed the Baby at the Breast	187
Step 2.	Feed the Baby, But Not Necessarily at the Breast	189
Step 3.	Find Out Why the Baby Can't Get Milk at the Breast	191
	Possible Causes and Consequences of Poor Sucking Patterns	191
	Summary: A Quick Checklist for Solving Breastfeeding Problems	193
	Notes	194
18	The Lactation Consult	195
	Intake and Recordkeeping	196
	The Initial Visit	196
	Therapeutic Options	198
	Reporting to the Primary Care Provider	200
	Closure	201
	Consult Supplies and Equipment	201
	Summary	201
	Notes	202
19	Breastfeeding Classes and Educational Services	203
	Logistics and Administration	203
	Content of Breastfeeding Classes/Meetings	203
	Special Topics	205
	Community Resources	205
	Professional Education	205
	Summary	206
	Notes	206
20	Pitfalls Related to Clinical Issues	207
	"Diagnosing" Without Diagnosing	207
	"Treating" Without Treating	209
	Inadequate Charting/Documentation	210
	Lack of Peer Review and Client Feedback/Evaluation	211
	Working with Family Members	211
	Even LCs Get Sick	211
	The Scary Mother or Baby	211
	Supporting the Mother Who Stops Breastfeeding	212
	Summary	212
	Notes	213
21	Professional Responsibilities Revisited	214
	Maintain Your IBLCE Certification	214
	Adhere to the IBLCE Code of Ethics	216
	Join ILCA	218
	Follow ILCA's Standards of Practice	218
	Keep Up-to-Date Through Continuing Education	222
	Evaluate and Monitor Your Clinical Skills Through Peer Review	223
	Advocate for the Profession	224
	Form Relationships with Mother-Support Groups	224
	Summary	226
	Notes	226
22	Other Aspects of PPLC Work	227
	Activities That Promote Breastfeeding: Think Advertise Breastfeeding	227
	Activities That Protect Breastfeeding: Think Laws or Policies	228
	Activities that Support Breastfeeding: Think Prevent and Solve Problems	230
	Summary	231
	Notes	231
23	Realities of Private Practice	232
	Patricia Lindsey
	How My Practice Started	232
	How I Operate	233
	Payment for Services and Third-Party Reimbursement: Part 1	234
	Payment for Services and Third-Party Reimbursement: Part 2	235
	Marketing and Advertising	236
	Documentation	237
	Supplies and Equipment	238
	Business Management	238
	Lessons Learned	239
	Recommendations	240
	Pamela Morrison
	I Had a Dream...	242
	Planning	242
	Implementation	245
	Finding Support as an Isolated Lactation Consultant	252
	Evaluation	256
Appendix A	Professional Documents	259
Appendix B	Educational Resources	283
Appendix C	Clinical Forms and Handouts	315
Appendix D	Sample Reports to Physicians	327
Appendix E	Sources for Supplies and Equipment	339
Appendix F	Gift Pack Generic Letter	341
Appendix G	Client Satisfaction Survey	345
	Index	347