Lactation Consultant

Description

Women’s Care is the largest independent physician-owned, single-specialty practice in the Eugene and Springfield area. Our clinics include:

· OBGYN

· Mammography

· Midwifery

· Maternal-Fetal Medicine

· Fertility services

· Community education

Women’s Care takes care of all women, from adolescence to menopause, and is one of the area’s strongest advocates for women’s health. Our extremely well-educated employees are deeply compassionate and understand that all women have different needs and desires. We personalize care accordingly. Everyone at Women’s care is involved in the community in some way, whether it’s volunteering, working with charities, or working with scholarships for nursing students. This involvement creates a specific culture: Our staff members aren’t just employees; they are members of our community who choose to give back. Our warm, friendly, and supportive work environment is the perfect place to grow your career in healthcare. For more on what it's like to be a part of Women’s Care, check out our website at www.womenscare.com.

SUMMARY

The Lactation Consultant participates in the care of the patient by acting as coach, consultant, teacher, and lactation expert to breast-feeding mothers in collaboration with the healthcare team. Assumes responsibility and is accountable for adherence to WC policies and procedures, as well as all applicable federal and state laws as they pertain to healthcare and employment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Responsible for protecting Personal Health Information (PHI) and maintaining compliance with WCs Privacy Policy. Uses the minimum PHI necessary when completing assignments.
• Promotes, establishes, and maintains open and effective communications with all members of WC. Serves as communication liaison between the physician and the patient. Educates the patient as directed by physician in health maintenance, disease prevention, and compliance with treatment plans.
• Provides lactation support and services to breastfeeding mothers and families, collaborating with the pediatrician to develop feeding plans for a range of infants from the normal newborn to the complex neonate.
• Makes clinical assessments, and uses current lactation theories and research to develop evidence-based feeding plans that address individual feeding issues, such as nutritional requirements, while respecting the family’s breastfeeding goals.
• Participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of standards of practice, guidelines, policies, procedures, and protocols for the Company within the area of lactation.
• Demonstrates responsibility for professional practice through active participation in professional organizations.
• Recognizes and responds to emergencies, obtaining assistance from and/or referring to physicians when appropriate.

SECONDARY DUTIES

• Receives, organizes, prioritizes, stores, and maintains transmittable information utilizing electronic technology.
• Participates actively and helpfully in special committees as assigned by management and/or physicians.
• Completes competency and compliance training as assigned.
• Any other duties as defined by management or physicians.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position does not supervise any employees.

WORK SCHEDULE

16-20 hours/week, Monday - Friday

Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Certification by the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Current Oregon RN Preferred.

Minimum of one-year experience as an RN Preferred. If not an RN, should have five years' experience as an IBCLC.

Current Basic Life Support of ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.

COMPETENCIES

• Exceptional organizational and time management skills to ensure maximum productivity.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to apply common sense; to carry out instructions and instruct others; and speak clearly to patients, employees and management. Ability to provide information with consideration of mental, emotional, cultural, social and physical factors.
• Professional knowledge of the breastfeeding process, antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum health care and psychosocial issues. Knowledge of premature infants and from newborns to toddlers.
• Advanced knowledge of the breastfeeding care and educational principles, practices, procedures and techniques required to assess patient’s learning needs, develop an educational plan, and teach/counsel staff, patients, and family members and evaluate the effectiveness of the instruction.
• 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.
• Knowledge of pharmaceuticals and the effects on lactation for antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum patients and newborns to toddlers. Able to identify the appropriate route and dosing, desired effects, complications of use, and recognition of adverse reactions.
• Ability to work with no supervision while performing duties.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This job operates in a professional medical office environment. Requires the ability to work under pressure and with a diverse population including staff, physicians, patients, vendors, and other members of the public on a regular basis. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. This position will have frequent exposure to contagious diseases; bodily fluids including blood; toxic substances; medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinical environment.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

• Frequently required to talk, hear, and/or communicate, convey or exchange information in a clear and concise manner.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, and/or move about the office to assist physicians, patients, and to accomplish tasks.
• Frequently required push, pull, reach, and/or transport supplies and or equipment to various locations within the office. (10-50 pounds.)
• Frequently required to have full range of body motion in order to assist, move, and/or lift patients. (75 pounds.)
• Occasionally required to perceive attributes of objects, such as size, shape, location, by touching, particularly with fingertips.
• Frequently required bend, sit, stoop and stretch.
• Requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as viewing a computer terminal; reading business periodicals, professional journals, or technical procedures.
• Frequently uses arms, hands and fingers for grasping, pushing/pulling, twisting/turning of wrists, and manipulating in the performance of various clerical duties such as typing, writing, and maintaining files; and/or to operate medical and technological equipment.