GBMC Recognized By International Organization For Excellence in Lactation Care
May 24, 2018
Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) was recently recognized by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) and the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) for their excellence and dedication in supporting and promoting breastfeeding.
The IBCLC Care Award is reserved for hospitals and community based facilities that protect, promote and support breastfeeding. Specific criteria include having dedicated lactation program available five to seven days a week for breast-feeding families and having staff that is currently IBCLC (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant) certified.
“This recognition validates the efforts being made by our multi-disciplinary team of nurses, nursing support technicians, lactation consultants, obstetricians, midwives, pediatricians, and anesthesiologists to provide breastfeeding mothers support prenatally, during their hospital stay and beyond discharge,” said Jodie Bell, BSN, RNC, IBCLC, assistant director of Women’s & Children’s Services at GBMC. “We are proud to be recognized again for our commitment to our patients.”
GBMC, one of three hospitals in the Baltimore region to receive this designation until the year 2020, has 10 RN, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants on staff who are available to provide lactation support, seven days a week from 7 am-10:30 pm, to breastfeeding mothers throughout the hospital, not just in the Maternal Newborn Health area.
GBMC provides lactation consultants and a community based breastfeeding support group. Breastfeeding rooms are also available at GBMC for employees, patients and visitors and a warm line is available for parents to call for answers to breastfeeding questions.
Founded in 1985, IBLCE is the global authority that determines the competence of practitioners in lactation and breastfeeding care. ILCA is the professional association for IBCLCs and other health care professionals who care for breastfeeding families.