Corrections of Inefficiencies and Standardization of Lactating Rooms

Who—Monument Health Caregivers
What—Corrections of inefficiencies and standardization of lactating rooms
When—March 2021–Ongoing
Where—Rapid City Hospital, to expand to Custer, Lead-Deadwood, Spearfish, and Sturgis

Problem 1: Inefficient use of caregiver’s time to locate lactation rooms. In March of 2021 we were contacted by 2 caregivers that were frustrated with the time it took to find a space to pump at Rapid City Hospital (RCH).

Problem 2: Lack of standardization of lactation rooms.

In order to mitigate inefficiencies and frustration of finding a lactation room, our IT department developed a lactation location check-out system (lalo.monument.health) application. This allows caregivers to find an open room at a glance and to check-out the space enroute to use. We have implemented this in our Rapid City market and will move to other markets as we get more information and refine the process. Additionally, we now have a standard room set up for lactation rooms. We goal is to have a table, chair, locking door, signage, cleaning wipes/gloves, and eventually multi-use breast pumps in each space.

Timeline

3/21/2022: Improvement of lactation rooms and check-out system was presented to us through 2 caregivers that were currently using lactation rooms.

3/21\2022: Started working with our partner from Design & Space Planning at MH to identify and communicate where are lactation rooms were located in the Rapid City market. Also, started looking at standardization of rooms. Made sure to keep in mind the labor law for nursing mothers and the AIA Best Practices, Lactation Room Design.

5/21/2022: Present to Department Directors at RCH to educate regarding breastfeeding friendly business, MH policy, Standardization of rooms.7/21/2022: lalo.monument.health developed. Implemented with 6 people initialy, then moved to all caregivers.

9/21/2022: Present to Department Directors at RCH to provide an update on lactation rooms and introduce lalo app

10/21/2022–Current: Continue to measure data around room usage and unique users. Lactation services moved to the first floor adjacent to the other 1st floor lactation room and were able to open an addition lactation room in this new area due to high usage of the existing 1st floor room. Working with Custer, Lead-Deadwood, Spearfish, and Sturgis markets to identify dedicated lactation space, room standardization, lalo app and communications. We also developed a process where visitors/vendors have access to lactation rooms for check-out and developed the communications.

Partners

• Worked with facilities management, construction, varies leaders to locate rooms that could be used exclusively as lactation rooms.
• Lactation Services assisted us in getting multi-use breast pumps for the majority of our spaces.
• CS Strategic marketing assisted us with communications. They have created flyers, PATH story, QR code, posters, e-newsletter and feature story in conjunction with 2022 August Breastfeeding month awareness.
• HR department and leave of absence so that when a caregiver goes on maternity leave, they are given our lactation flyer.
• Good & Healthy SD who awarded Women and Children’s Services to purchase initiation kits for RC Caregivers. They developed a tracking and check out system to monitor usage.

Goals

Develop an app for room check out, standardize lactation spaces.

Our team was able to meet both of the set goals; the development of the app and creating a standardization of lactation spaces. Additional benefit of decreasing frustration of caregivers of wasted time looking for a space to pump. Time efficiency of staff. Have increased awareness of breastfeeding friendly business.

What Went Well: We were able to take an idea from our caregivers and implement, work with other disciplines, support from Monument Health to implement and improve our processes.

What’s Next: Continue to measure data around the rooms we have. Increase lactation spaces in other markets outside of Rapid City. Support caregivers needs.

For questions about this experience and success story contact:
Stephanie Iverson: (605) 755-5538
Theresa Ferdinand: (605) 755-4365

View the Breastfeeding Support Model Policy