Miriam Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital Recognized as Breastfeeding Friendly Workplaces

Posted Friday, February 22, 2013

Pictured from left are Linda Goodale, child life specialist and lactation counselor at Hasbro Children’s Hospital; Fred Macri, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Rhode Island Hospital; Robert Klein, MD, pediatrician-in-chief of Hasbro Children’s Hospital; Myra Edens, MSN, RN, administrative director of Hasbro Children's Hospital; Barbara Riley, RN, MS, senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Rhode Island Hospital; Michael Fine, MD director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Lifespan’s The Miriam Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital were each awarded the Gold level of the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Award, the highest honor an organization can receive.

Recognition as a breastfeeding-friendly workplace is based on the successful establishment of supportive policies, facilities, and resources for breastfeeding employees and clients. Gold level awards are given to organizations that have at least 11 strategies in place for supporting breastfeeding.

“We commend The Miriam Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital for recognizing the proven health benefits of breastfeeding for infants, which include obesity prevention, as well as improved immune function and brain development," said Michael Fine, MD director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. "We also recognize and applaud the work of Dr. Lynn Taylor in advocating for policies that support and encourage employees who wish to continue to breastfeed once they have returned to work.”

These are the first awards recognizing Hasbro Children’s Hospital and The Miriam Hospital as breastfeeding-friendly workplaces since 2007, when each was named to the Silver level.

Pictured from left are: Sandra Cheng, vice president of Support Services at The Miriam Hospital; Lynn E. Taylor, MD, HIV/AIDS specialist at The Miriam Hospital and co-founder of MomDocFamily group; Arthur Sampson, president of The Miriam Hospital; and Ana Novais, executive director of Health Community, Family Health and Equity at the Rhode Island Department of Health.

The Miriam Hospital credits the MomDocFamily group for their advocacy in creating three new mother’s rooms, open to both employees and visitors, located in the emergency room, the operating rooms and in the RISE building. Co-founded by Lynn E. Taylor, MD, an HIV/AIDS specialist from The Miriam Hospital, the MomDocFamily group, provides mentorship and support for women physicians facing the challenges and rewards of combining a medical career with motherhood.

The Miriam Hospital also has a written lactation policy that is routinely distributed to all employees, and promotes the ability of patients and employees to breastfeed in public spaces, or in private, if they wish. The benefits of breastfeeding are promoted to all Miriam employees, and the hospital offers flexible work schedules along with lactation support to those who need it.

Since Hasbro Children’s Hospital was named to the Silver level in 2007, it has continued to increase support for breastfeeding employees. The hospital implemented a hospital-wide lactation policy that provides flexibility in nursing employees’ schedules. In addition, a designated lactation room was established on the fourth floor of the hospital, with hospital-grade breast pumps available for use. “Breastfeeding Welcome Here” decals and signage are displayed throughout the building to make hospital visitors aware of their options to breastfeed publicly or privately.

For additional information about the benefits of breastfeeding to mothers and children and employer breastfeeding support, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/breastfeeding/index.php

Filed under: Hasbro, Miriam,