Re: Size of private practice

[Guest guest]

Yikes, Cheryl!! Hope you get more PP moms -- I see such a need for PP IBCLCs, particularly for those that will do home visits.

Jan

Hi Jan,

I breastfed my first for 18 months in 1984 through 1986, no problems but no knowledge on average length of nursing, how often to nurse, etc. I just did it and stopped nursing when my then husband questioned how long I would keep doing "that". Had my next child in 1994 (new husband, yay) but had to return to work and oh did the problems start.

I joined LLL and then I started renting pumps later in 1994, no one close to me was doing it and I saw a need. (I traveled 45 minutes to get mine, so thought surely others could use someone closer to them). As the pump rentals grew and the questions arose I took classes, conferences worked with my LLLL, IBCLC friend/mentor, became a CLC, CLE, volunteered at our hospital when they had a difficult dyad or just no one else that could help a certain mom and babe and I went from maybe 1 rental a month to actual consults. 20 is probably the most clients I have ever seen per month. The most pumps I carried was 23.

Even though I was not yet, IBCLC, I was the go to person with questions from moms, the peds all referred to me and I did lots of phone help. 2006 I sent back most pumps and only carried 5, I had to take a step back for family issues) I am an IBCLC now, I flew through the test because I had been working like an IBCLC for so long I just didn't have the means to do it, could kick myself now when I seen how easy it was. I am back up to 7 Pumps now and have always had my BabyWeigh scale, but only see 1-4 moms a month. Now that my mom has passed I am hoping to really get things turned around now.

So, from August 1994 until now, I have never made a profit but have at least broken even a few times. But, as my husband says, I probably didn't really break even when you factor in all of my classes, conferences, free consults, etc. Unfortunately, while I took a step back, WIC now has an IBCLC and 2 peer counselors and our hospital has 2 IBCLC's and 2 CLC's. It's tough. But, I'm going to give it my all.

Cheryl Dawn n, IBCLC, RLC

Alliance, OH

Baby's Best Company

To: " " < >Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:38 PMSubject: Re: Re: Size of private practice

how to do you break even for the cost of education, cerps, equipment, etc. that go along with being a clinician?

Dana Schmidt, BS, RN, IBCLCCradlehold, DirectorBreastfeeding Education & Supportwww.cradlehold.nethttp://breastfeedinghomevisitservices.weebly.com/shop.htmlProviding the minimum amount of intervention for the minimum amount of time for maximum benefit to mother and baby

To: Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:25 PMSubject: Re: Re: Size of private practice

Dana -- it all depends on what you have to make. Some need to "make" more than others to make it...

Jan www.grammiesawards.blogspot.com

This all makes me wonder, can a private practice IBCLC make it as a free-standing clinician?

Dana Schmidt, BS, RN, IBCLCCradlehold, DirectorBreastfeeding Education & Supportwww.cradlehold.nethttp://breastfeedinghomevisitservices.weebly.com/shop.htmlProviding the minimum amount of intervention for the minimum amount of time for maximum benefit to mother and baby

To: Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:03 PMSubject: Re: Size of private practice

Jan, I took your class 4 years ago and learned so much!I have had my practice for 2 years now. I have a website, and am listed on a handful of other websites. My first year I think I had 11 initial consults. It was very sporadic. My second year has picked up some, and I think I have had closer to 20 consults. Again, very sporadic. I once had 3 consults in one week and that was a big deal.I do exclusively home visits, no pump rental. I am willing to drive 45 minutes, sometimes more. There is an IBCLC in my area that has a free-standing clinic with pump and scale rental. Her practice is well established and is my most direct competition. Several hospitals in the area offer outpatient lactation services, but several moms have said that they are much happier with the time I take and my follow-up.I have not marketed myself much with local physicians yet as I have not had the ability to handle the potential added work I hope to get when I do as I have 2 children, the youngest started half day kindergarten this year. Next year with both kids being in school all day I will be able to put more time into marketing and handling the added business.Most of my clients have found me online, or referred by friends or other LLL Leaders.Amy Grant, BA, IBCLC, RLCNatural Beginnings Lactation ServicesRound Lake Beach, IL> > > >> > I'm trying to get a handle on how large (or small) the average private practice is -- could you e-mail me either privately or post to the group and let me/us know:> > > > Average number of dyads seen/week> > Do you do only home visits, only office visits or a combination of both?> > > > Need this info for a book on clinical instruction that is in the works.> > > > Thanks -- Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCA> >>

[Guest guest]

That has been my one draw for many moms. That I do home visits. And I will really push that as a great benefit to them. They don't even have to get out of their jammies : ) I have kept up with the breastfeeding class I give once a month as a volunteer with our Pregnancy Center and always tell the ladies to call me and they won't have to go into an office for help.CherylTo: Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 7:36 AMSubject: Re: Re: Size of private practice

Yikes, Cheryl!! Hope you get more PP moms -- I see such a need for PP IBCLCs, particularly for those that will do home visits.

Jan

Hi Jan,

I breastfed my first for 18 months in 1984 through 1986, no problems but no knowledge on average length of nursing, how often to nurse, etc. I just did it and stopped nursing when my then husband questioned how long I would keep doing "that". Had my next child in 1994 (new husband, yay) but had to return to work and oh did the problems start.

I joined LLL and then I started renting pumps later in 1994, no one close to me was doing it and I saw a need. (I traveled 45 minutes to get mine, so thought surely others could use someone closer to them). As the pump rentals grew and the questions arose I took classes, conferences worked with my LLLL, IBCLC friend/mentor, became a CLC, CLE, volunteered at our hospital when they had a difficult dyad or just no one else that could help a certain mom and babe and I went from maybe 1 rental a month to actual consults. 20 is probably the most clients I have ever seen per month. The most pumps I carried was 23.

Even though I was not yet, IBCLC, I was the go to person with questions from moms, the peds all referred to me and I did lots of phone help. 2006 I sent back most pumps and only carried 5, I had to take a step back for family issues) I am an IBCLC now, I flew through the test because I had been working like an IBCLC for so long I just didn't have the means to do it, could kick myself now when I seen how easy it was. I am back up to 7 Pumps now and have always had my BabyWeigh scale, but only see 1-4 moms a month. Now that my mom has passed I am hoping to really get things turned around now.

So, from August 1994 until now, I have never made a profit but have at least broken even a few times. But, as my husband says, I probably didn't really break even when you factor in all of my classes, conferences, free consults, etc. Unfortunately, while I took a step back, WIC now has an IBCLC and 2 peer counselors and our hospital has 2 IBCLC's and 2 CLC's. It's tough. But, I'm going to give it my all.

Cheryl Dawn n, IBCLC, RLC

Alliance, OH

Baby's Best Company

To: " " < >Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:38 PMSubject: Re: Re: Size of private practice

how to do you break even for the cost of education, cerps, equipment, etc. that go along with being a clinician?

Dana Schmidt, BS, RN, IBCLCCradlehold, DirectorBreastfeeding Education & Supportwww.cradlehold.nethttp://breastfeedinghomevisitservices.weebly.com/shop.htmlProviding the minimum amount of intervention for the minimum amount of time for maximum benefit to mother and baby

To: Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:25 PMSubject: Re: Re: Size of private practice

Dana -- it all depends on what you have to make. Some need to "make" more than others to make it...

Jan www.grammiesawards.blogspot.com

This all makes me wonder, can a private practice IBCLC make it as a free-standing clinician?

Dana Schmidt, BS, RN, IBCLCCradlehold, DirectorBreastfeeding Education & Supportwww.cradlehold.nethttp://breastfeedinghomevisitservices.weebly.com/shop.htmlProviding the minimum amount of intervention for the minimum amount of time for maximum benefit to mother and baby

To: Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:03 PMSubject: Re: Size of private practice

Jan, I took your class 4 years ago and learned so much!I have had my practice for 2 years now. I have a website, and am listed on a handful of other websites. My first year I think I had 11 initial consults. It was very sporadic. My second year has picked up some, and I think I have had closer to 20 consults. Again, very sporadic. I once had 3 consults in one week and that was a big deal.I do exclusively home visits, no pump rental. I am willing to drive 45 minutes, sometimes more. There is an IBCLC in my area that has a free-standing clinic with pump and scale rental. Her practice is well established and is my most direct competition. Several hospitals in the area offer outpatient lactation services, but several moms have said that they are much happier with the time I take and my follow-up.I have not marketed myself much with local physicians yet as I have not had the ability to handle the potential added work I hope to get when I do as I have 2 children, the youngest started half day kindergarten this year. Next year with both kids being in school all day I will be able to put more time into marketing and handling the added business.Most of my clients have found me online, or referred by friends or other LLL Leaders.Amy Grant, BA, IBCLC, RLCNatural Beginnings Lactation ServicesRound Lake Beach, IL> > > >> > I'm trying to get a handle on how large (or small) the average private practice is -- could you e-mail me either privately or post to the group and let me/us know:> > > > Average number of dyads seen/week> > Do you do only home visits, only office visits or a combination of both?> > > > Need this info for a book on clinical instruction that is in the works.> > > > Thanks -- Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCA> >>

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth

I have met a Camilla at Halton BFI meetings, she is the treasurer and I think

she lives in Oakville. It's a small world I wonder if she may be the same

person. I will check at the AGM next month.

I like Ottawa and this winter I do plan to come up to skate on the canal so it

would be great to meet, could you email me off group your contact details.

Best wishes ......... Vikki

> >

> > Do you want Canadian info??

> >

> > I'm in Ottawa, Ontario and we are unusually well served, I think, for a

city our size.....or at least we are for Canada. There are now 15 PPLCs in a

city of a >1 million people plus the PHNs, the Breastfeeding Buddies peer

support system run by the public health dept, LLL, plus provincially funded

drop-ins (about 8 of those) plus 3 private drop-ins.

> >

> > I work doing mostly home visits 3-8 clients/week plus I work as a

independent consultant at 2 of the provincially funded drop-ins (so not sure how

you want to count that - they pay me but I am not an employee). Even though we

have provincial health care private LCs are not included in this, nor are we

covered by most private insurance (hurry up licensure!). I have a shared office

available to me 2 days/week but I rarely use it. The office is in another LCs

home - she is my mentor and colleague - I just have a key and use the office if

I need to though I have to pay to use it and moms generally prefer home visits

anyway. I also have an arrangement where most of the supplies I need or offer to

my clients come through her. I don't much like the business of selling/renting

so she takes on the risk or having rental pumps/scales and does the inventory

stuff but I can carry items I might need and sell to clients as appropriate but

I choose not to make a profit that way. There are some LCs who are not as busy

as me (by choice I think) and some who combine their work with other employment

- prenatal classes, doula work, etc.... I could be busier but I also have kids

and sit on numerous committees and lead two LLL groups. It certainly isn't a way

to make much money but I love it and hope to grow the business soon though it is

always going to be one of those businesses that has ups and downs - a week when

you can't handle all the clients and a week with only a few calls

> >

> > Interesting to hear other's experiences.

> >

> > Thanks for this

> >

> > beth

> >

> > Beth McMillan BA IBCLC

> > www.bethmcmillanibclc.com

> >

>