8 R-CERPs

Charting GPS:
Navigating And Documenting Private Practice Lactation Consults

Rebecca Costello, MPH, IBCLC

Access through 2/14/2025

Course description
Conducting and charting a full outpatient lactation visit can feel overwhelming. You go in full of knowledge and practical advice, but how do you go about collecting information efficiently, structure the consult around the needs of the patient(s), and make your best clinical assessment, all while accurately documenting your visit? And what about when you encounter areas when you’re just not sure what the answer is?

  • Learn the importance of documentation and foundational concepts of charting.
  • Review the essential components of a lactation note with the goal of building a note customized to your individualized practice.
  • Uncover areas for skill and knowledge development, with resources built into the course - including a full component on assessing growth and calculating baby’s intake/supplementation needs - as well as suggestions and links to other continuing education.
  • Dive into how you actually chart - the “jargon” and acronyms that may seem puzzling
  • Learn to protect yourself legally when charting on complex cases;
  • Develop strategies to keep up with your charting both during and after the visit.


Filled with real-life examples for self study and implementation!

Meet your instructor

Rebecca Costello, MPH, IBCLC

Like many IBCLCs, my formal education in charting was limited - I learned a lot just from watching my mentors and reading other people's notes. When I became the Director of Lactation Services for a large outpatient lactation clinic, I suddenly had full responsibility for revising and updating charting for a department with multiple LCs. I was the one to oversee the transition from paper charts to electronic health records. That's when I really dove into charting fundamentals! I oversaw multiple revisions of our charting both on paper and in EHR. Then when I went into private practice, I started all over again to find a system and format that worked well for a solo practitioner. I bring all those experiences and hard-won knowledge to this presentation! I have also been a Pathway 2 and 3 mentor for many years.

Rebecca will be giving individual feedback to assess your learning!

"I love teaching students how to think clinically and chart effectively."
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Rebecca began her lactation journey with her undergraduate senior thesis evaluating a breastfeeding education program. After working as a doula and childbirth educator, she decided to pursue a Master’s in Public Health in Maternal and Child Health. There, she was also in the first class of the Mary Rose Tully Training Initiative, a Pathway 2 IBCLC training program. After graduating, she first worked full time as an IBCLC in a large academic hospital. She then became the Director of Lactation Services at a busy freestanding birth center. After making the move to a new state, she went into private practice part-time, and expanded her focus on a longtime passion: providing education for IBCLCs, lactation trainees, and health care providers. She also has special interests in research, support for the LGBTQ+ community, and coalition-building to advance and support IBCLC services.

Learners say 

Even as an RN who already does a lot of charting, this course helped me feel better equipped to chart as an IBCLC. Charting feels simpler and more doable with Rebecca's tips and information.

Alexandra Loniello, RN, IBCLC

Rebecca's style of teaching takes the fear factor out. I enjoyed and understood the process as well as the fact that everything was reinforced added to my knowledge and confidence level. 

Alicia Farina, IBCLC

Rebecca is an excellent instructor who shares her knowledge with such enthusiasm.

Susan Manore, IBCLC

Start learning now!

Knowledge Gap
Deficit in skills for efficiently structuring an outpatient lactation consult. Deficit in knowledge and skills in collecting and documenting relevant patient information. Deficit in knowledge and skills in assessing and calculating adequate infant growth and intake.
Objectives

01

Define components of a SOAP note and how they relate to components of an outpatient visit.

02

Construct a lactation outpatient note that includes essential components and is aligned to the learner’s practice style.

03

Demonstrate understanding of thorough documentation by completing a sample visit note.
IBLCE Content Outline
VII. Clinical Skills
B3 Care plan development and sharing
C2 Clinical competencies

Course Lessons

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