Loyola University Health System has been recognized by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) and the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) for excellence in breast-feeding care.
Loyola received the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Care Award for staffing professionals who hold the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant certification (IBCLC) and for providing a lactation program that is available five to seven days a week for breast-feeding families. Loyola also was recognized for providing breast-feeding training for medical staff who care for new families and for implementing activities that help to protect, promote and support breast-feeding.
"This recognition highlights the efforts being made by maternity facilities all across the world to help mothers get off to a good start with breast-feeding and to support them in reaching their goals," said Liz Brooks, president of ILCA.
IBCLC is the leading internationally recognized lactation certification in the world. IBCLC-certified practitioners are highly skilled in helping mothers with breast-feeding. They also are an important part of the overall maternal/child health team and they assure that evidence-based policies and practices are in place to help mothers succeed with breast-feeding.
In 2012, Loyola University Health System was among 90 hospitals nationwide to be asked to participate in Best Fed Beginnings, a first-of-its-kind initiative to significantly improve breast-feeding rates in states where they are the lowest. The National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ) is leading this program with the help of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Baby-Friendly USA, Inc.
Loyola is working with 90 hospitals using proven quality improvement methods to transform maternity care services in pursuit of a "Baby-Friendly" designation. This designation verifies that a hospital has comprehensively implemented the American Academy of Pediatrics-endorsed 10 Steps to Successful Breast-feeding.
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