The Lactation Consultant will provide expert nursing care to assess, plan, implement, evaluate and monitor the care of lactating couplets in multiple units within University of Michigan Health, primarily in Von Voigtlander Womens Hospital (VVWH).VVWH is a dynamic 53 bed hospital, home to obstetric services in the Childrens and Womens building. VVWH performs 5,300+ deliveries per year. While many of these deliveries are routine and uncomplicated, we are uniquely qualified to handle cases that are complicated by maternal or fetal high-risk conditions. VVWH is a Level III Perinatal Center which means we have specialists available around the clock to care for both maternal and neonatal emergencies and high risk patients as well as caring for those with low risk pregnancies wishing for a "low intervention" labor and delivery process. We are staffed by a diverse group of professionals, including Certified Nurse Midwives, Obstetricians, Family Practice Physicians, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists, Professional Registered Nurses, and ancillary staff. We are honored to assist families from Michigan as well as from across the country in their care during this important time in their lives. As part of our philosophy of care, we are committed to providing family-centered care. This is the delivery of safe, satisfying, quality health care which meets the psychosocial needs of the family. It is a cooperative effort of families and caregivers which recognizes the strength and integrity of the family.
The perinatal team exists to provide families with safe, satisfying, family-centered health care within the childbearing continuum. We are guided by values of caring, teamwork, integrity, innovation, and excellence
- Assess, plan, implement, evaluate and monitor the care of lactating couplets in Von Voigtlander Womens Hospital (VVWH), Brandon Newborn ICU, Mott Hospital acute care and ICU Pediatric Units, Childrens Emergency Services, Adult University Hospital/Cardiovascular Center Units, Adult Emergency Services, and the Lactation Consultant Outpatient Clinic(s).
- Provide expert lactation consultative services, and act as a primary resource to all members of the health care teams within the University of Michigan Health System.
- Document patient care utilizing established templates.
- Lead the development, implementation and maintenance of lactation standards and practices within VVWH (and elsewhere as designated), consistent with current evidence.
- Provide leadership for lactation practice updates and changes.
- Investigate, design, develop, evaluate and modify patient education materials as necessary to maintain current, evidence-based information.
- Design and evaluate the effectiveness of parent discharge education materials in various media formats.
- Participate in planning, facilitating and conducting lactation education (e.g. orientation, inservices, conferences, workshops) for staff, students and other health care professionals.
- Provide lactation continuing education workshops, inservices and classes for UMH nurses and providers in both formal and informal settings for Von Voigtlander Women?s Hospital, Brandon Newborn ICU, Mott Hospital, and School of Nursing.
- Implement strategies to develop and improve the lactation knowledge and practices of VVWH/UMH staff; measure effectiveness.
- Execute consultation and act as a resource for questions related to medications, breast-milk, and lactation both on the medical campus and in the community.
- Provide community support via phone consultation when patients call with lactation questions after they are discharged from the hospital.
-
