Re: What's in your consult bag?

[Guest guest]

Congrats !I have found if I need a special piece of equipment, such as an SNS, I buy it for that client at that time at a medical supply store but I don't stock special needs. My bag always contains

glovesDr. Hale's Medication and Mother's MilkA penantibacterial hand sanitizerLLL pamphletsClient's folderone or two syringessoothie packmy cardsmy scale under armI find I have minimal " things " but am able to get anything I need fairly quickly in my area.

Good luck and this Group has been so helpful for me! Walters, BBA, IBCLCIn Home Lactation Specialists

 

Hi all,

I'm newly certified, and thinking through what equipment I will need for home visits. I want to avoid selling products, but assume I'll need to offer at least a few things that aren't readily available retail. What do you bring to a (in-home) consult, in general?

And does anyone have strong recommendations or anti about specific suppliers?

Lang Kosa

Berkeley, CA

[Guest guest]

hi jessica! and congrats!

i used to bring absolutely everything in a suitcase to home visits. but then i started doind a bit more tailoring. i'd find out a bit about the situation, and bring what i thought might come in handy plus a few maybes. so:

a few handouts pertinent to the situation, plus some that i think MIGHT be pertinent

usually includes:

if sore nipples - hydrogel pads

if low milk supply (maybe) - herbal galactogogues plus handouts on domperidone ;-) - i used to just send families to the store for the galactogogues but really like that we now carry them so newly postpartum families don't have to go chasing remedies.

always a rental pump (left in the car) and several sizes of pumping shields

nipple shields in various sizes

5french tube (and an extra) and a cheap bottle/nipple for making a newman supplementing device

an SNS -starter and full size - and a Lactaid

paper medical tape

my scale

forms for a written care plan - on ncr paper, intake form, etc.

What's in your consult bag?

Hi all,I'm newly certified, and thinking through what equipment I will need for home visits. I want to avoid selling products, but assume I'll need to offer at least a few things that aren't readily available retail. What do you bring to a (in-home) consult, in general?And does anyone have strong recommendations or anti about specific suppliers? Lang KosaBerkeley, CA

[Guest guest]

I have ordered syringes through www.wheelchairmedical.com

Good luck Melitta

that is really odd! i have never had any trouble. i don't do the ordering anymore for our practice, so not sure where we are getting them these days, but i've gotten them through just about any medical supply place. i have never heard of such a thing!

there's an online medical supply source that was being discussed on this list a few years back - cottonball something?

you could search the archives....

lyla

To:

Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 5:02 PM

Subject: Re: What's in your consult bag?

On the subject of periodontal syringes... I have struggled to find a bulk supplier who will sell these to us (WIC) because we want to use them for breastfeeding and the reps have told me that that is not what they were made for so they wouldn't supply me (us)! I know I probably gave the reps tmi, but still, I have not been able to find a good source (other than the sweet LCs at Legacy Salmon Creek hospital!)Any suggestions?Fay>> yes i knew i was forgetting some stuff! > > pen > gloves> syringes (periodontal)> > > > .>

[Guest guest]

Hi All,I keep my bag fairly light as I have to carry it I have a folder with handouts, and a notebook - I keep Superbills and all my papers in this and I note all of my clients in a medium size spiral notebook.I keep some gloves in a sealed baggy, a couple of nipple shields and whatever may be appropriate for the cases I am seeing that day. I also have my personal effects - wallet, keys, Blackberry, lipstick (very important!) And occasionally I end of with a toy. I have all of this with my scale which I have on a luggage carrier.I also carry confidence in my ability and it is sometimes shaky but not so much anymore. And I carry sense of humor and an open mind. Pumps, herbs, extra breast shields, hydrogels are pretty much readily available on any given day throughout the city so I do not carry these things.I have gotten pretty streamlined over the years. I wish I could dehydrate the scale so I wouldn't have to drag it all over - it is especially taxing on my body on the subways and buses. On busy days I hail a cab - but that is usually because I am rushing to pick up my two younger children. I work when they are in school - so that limits me to two clients a day unless I work in the evenings.I hope this helps! Leigh Anne O'Connor, IBCLC, LLLLNew York, NY USAleighanne625@...www.leighanneoconnor.com

[Guest guest]

It's great that you're so busy. I drive to all my clients because they can be very spread out. my car is my office so EVERYTHING is in there. all the stuff that everyone already mentioned. i take the bare essentials into the clients house. I use a manila folder for all her individual paper work. I'm going to start taking a digital camera with me. there are so many times i wish i'd had one! i don't carry a lot of handouts. only one about tongue tie. my clients use the internet constantly and usually already have tons of printed information which, i have found, isn't usually that helpful cause it doesn't tell them about THEIR baby.

you can imagine my car is usually a mess! I don't do much retail, but clients have told me they appreciate that i have things that they need in the car so they don't have to make another trip.

Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC Lactation Consultant/Postpartum Doula www.second9months.com

See breastfeeding articles at www.fertilefoods.com---

Subject: Re: Re: What's in your consult bag?To: Date: Thursday, October 22, 2009, 6:25 PM

Hi All,

I keep my bag fairly light as I have to carry it I have a folder with handouts, and a notebook - I keep Superbills and all my papers in this and I note all of my clients in a medium size spiral notebook.

I keep some gloves in a sealed baggy, a couple of nipple shields and whatever may be appropriate for the cases I am seeing that day. I also have my personal effects - wallet, keys, Blackberry, lipstick (very important!) And occasionally I end of with a toy. I have all of this with my scale which I have on a luggage carrier.

I also carry confidence in my ability and it is sometimes shaky but not so much anymore. And I carry sense of humor and an open mind.

Pumps, herbs, extra breast shields, hydrogels are pretty much readily available on any given day throughout the city so I do not carry these things.

I have gotten pretty streamlined over the years. I wish I could dehydrate the scale so I wouldn't have to drag it all over - it is especially taxing on my body on the subways and buses. On busy days I hail a cab - but that is usually because I am rushing to pick up my two younger children. I work when they are in school - so that limits me to two clients a day unless I work in the evenings.

I hope this helps!

Leigh Anne O'Connor, IBCLC, LLLL

New York, NY USA

leighanne625@ rcn.com

www.leighanneoconno r.com

[Guest guest]

I forget to add; lately I am carrying a Small camera to take still photos or short videos of the " interesting " cases for future presentations/talks etc.KindlyAnn Faust, Columbia, MDBabyAndMeLC.com

[Guest guest]

I'm of the bring everything, just in case, school. You can see a picture of me and my car loaded up for home visits on my website. I have three bags plus other items depending on situation.

My consult bag includes:

gloves

syringes

hydrogells

starter sns

shields

shells (though they are about 10 years old!)

care plans

feeding logs

my thrush handouts from LLL

cheat sheets (reminders for me of what to ask/check for in cases of TT, sore nipples, low milk supply, etc)

Hale

Breastfeeding Atlas (for showing mothers pictures of TT, thrush, etc.)

clipboard with mother's file and phone intake attached, which includes directions to house

pens, calculator, cell phone, keys, hand sanitizer

extra client forms, superbills

Scale bag

Pump parts bag:

all the pieces for Medela rental pumps and PNS plus vacuum guage, microsteam bags, demo breast

I leave this bag in the car and just bring it in if and when I need it.

Rental pump, possibly several

Bras, if the mother asks for them

Sling

Keep in mind that I am making house calls in a rural area where I can usually park right in front of mom's house. I sometimes get another call while I am out, so prefer to have everything with me so that I can be prepared to go straight to another appointment. On the other hand, sometimes I lug all my stuff to my car for no reason. Oh well, I need the exercise.

Becky , IBCLCMilky Way

La Plata, MD

www.milkywaybreastfeeding.com

[Guest guest]

I carry various handouts on commons issues - LLL tear-off sheets are pretty good and don't cost much, Dr Jack Newman's articles are also good.

I also carry forms I need-- consent, history, care plan, insurance superbill. Manilla folders for individual clients.

I've been meaning to make referral lists for pediatric ENTs, etc, just haven't taken the time to do so yet.

As far as supplies--

nipple shields,

large breast shields for Medela pumps,

gloves in a ziplock bag

curve tip syringes (I split an order with my dentist)

SNS starter kit

I stopped carrying Lansinoh samples because I haven't found it to be all that helpful.

I also carry the Breastfeeding Atlas, just used it today to show parents see what breast milk stools should look like.

All fits into my black rollerbag very nicely. Scale fits well on top of the bag. I keep both in my car in case I get a call while out and about.

-

[Guest guest]

Dear Lyla,If the scale is in the car all the time do you need to get it checked often? When I got mine they told me to keep it as flat as possible most of the time. So I don't even leave mine on it's side or leave things laying like books etc (which is a challenge as I do have three young children

Ann FaustBabyAndMeLC.com2009/10/23 Bloodgood, IBCLC

 

I carry various handouts on commons issues - LLL tear-off sheets are pretty good and don't cost much, Dr Jack Newman's articles are also good.

 

I also carry forms I need-- consent, history, care plan, insurance superbill.  Manilla folders for individual clients.

 

I've been meaning to make referral lists for pediatric ENTs, etc, just haven't taken the time to do so yet.

 

As far as supplies--

nipple shields,

large breast shields for Medela pumps,

gloves in a ziplock bag

curve tip syringes (I split an order with my dentist)

SNS starter kit

 

I stopped carrying Lansinoh samples because I haven't found it to be all that helpful.

 

I also carry the Breastfeeding Atlas, just used it today to show parents see what breast milk stools should look like.

 

All fits into my black rollerbag very nicely.  Scale fits well on top of the bag.  I keep both in my car in case I get a call while out and about.

 

-

 

-- Mother's milk is the normal food for human babies.Got breastfeeding questions? 1-877-4 LA LECHE (1-)24 hours a day