OBGYN- Outpatient Lactation Consultant

POSITION SUMMARY:

The International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is responsible for counseling and support of breastfeeding patients at Boston Medical Center (BMC) in the OB/GYN department as part of the Breastfeeding Medicine Clinic (BFM). The IBCLC will see patients independently as well as support the care of patients in co-visits with the clinic's providers. They will triage patient referrals, and provide case management and follow-up to clinic patients. They will support the overall functioning of the Breastfeeding Medicine Clinic through monitoring of metrics.

Position: Outpatient Lactation Consultant

Department: OBGYN

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

The IBCLC will work within the outpatient Breastfeeding Medicine Clinic/BMC Breastfeeding Equity Center (BFM/BEC) in the OB/GYN outpatient clinic, providing clinical care and supporting lactation-related programing along with other BFM/BEC staff. These duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide lactation support, counseling and education to BMC patients in the OB/GYN clinic, including initial and follow-up appointments and management of complex cases.
• Patients will be seen both in the clinic and via telehealth.
• Participate in BFM provider sessions though conduct of co-visits (in person and telehealth), seeing patients either before or after the provider by performing pre/post feed weights, patient counseling and hands-on support.
• Manage and conduct group lactation visits Manage all referrals to BFM by reviewing cases, triaging as appropriate to IBCLC or provider level care and contacting patients both to schedule appointments and to provide phone lactation counseling and history-taking ahead of appointments.
• Manage EMR and phone patient and provider contacts to BFM or OB/GYN regarding lactation related questions, including monitoring BFM provider inboxes and e-consults.
• Support the BFM clinic and the wider Breastfeeding Equity Center through programmatic, educational and clinical activities that promote breastfeeding equity and education among both patients and staff.
• Duties include attending BFM/BEC meetings, other relevant departmental, lactation and nursing meetings, and providing programmatic and metric-monitoring support.
• Supervise and provide clinical mentorship to trainees in BFM including but not limited to nursing, medical, and midwifery students, residents, other staff seeking learning in lactation, and CLC and IBCLC trainees.

As an IBCLC it is expected that the person will fulfill the following in clinical care and programmatic work supporting BFM/BEC:

• Independently assess patient's breastfeeding condition and use judgment to determine health care needs and appropriate action to be taken
• Recognize and respond appropriately to deviation from normal.
• Support and encourages the breastfeeding dyad, including support of the extended breastfeeding dyad from toddler to preschooler
• Share knowledge of the breastfeeding care and educational principles, practices, procedures and techniques required to assess learning needs, develop an educational plan, and teach/counsel staff, patients, and family members and evaluate effectiveness of the instruction.
• Provide counseling, guidance and health promotion instructions to assist mothers and family members to participate in their health care plan and maintain good health habits and prevention activities.
• Recognize adverse signs and symptoms and react swiftly and appropriately in emergency situations; make appropriate referrals to BFM or other providers.
• Apply knowledge of hospital/clinic administrative procedures and channels for reporting, inspection, quality control activities, and ordering supplies; and basic personnel administration in matters such as unresolved patient complaints and to provide orientation/education to medical staff to prevent incidents.
• Assist BFM/BEC in community planning, developing and evaluating local health care needs regarding breastfeeding Assist in evaluating the health care facility for breastfeeding friendly activities.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's degree in healthcareor public health related field required

Master's degree in health care or public health related field a plus

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) required

Registered Nurse (RN) required

EXPERIENCE:

Requires 5 years in a healthcare or public health field.

Requires 2 years (preferred 5 years) of experience as a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES (KSA):

• Highly specialized skills and abilities regarding assessment, intervention based on patient history and assessment, initiation and modification of complex situations and related therapies and interventions.
• Ability to provide information with consideration of mental, emotional, cultural, social, political and physical factors.
• Able to identify health literacy and healthcare preferences of diverse dyads including immigrant/refugee, non-English speaking and other groups that may have unique needs or vulnerabilities.
• Able to identify and assess for language barriers and plan appropriately, i.e. use of interpreter services, etc.
• Interest and experience working with diverse populations, ideally in a clinical or lactation capacity, and a passion for breastfeeding equity.
• Fluency in Spanish or Haitian Creole strongly preferred

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans