SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-To Pump or Not to Pump? Creating Lactation Accommodations to Promote Gender Equity in Hospital Medicine

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The document describes a hospital medicine lactation accommodation policy designed to help breastfeeding faculty balance clinical duties with the physical, mental, and time demands of pumping. The background notes that while breastfeeding has clear benefits for mothers and infants, lactating physicians returning from parental leave often face major challenges that can worsen gender disparities in career satisfaction. There were no established national service models for hospital medicine to address this issue.<br /><br />In January 2021, the institution implemented a census-equalization accommodation for lactating faculty on direct care services. Their team census was reduced by one, effectively lowering clinical demand by about one hour to create time for pumping. In the electronic health record system, a “test” patient was added to the team list so the census adjustment could be tracked and managed. The goal was to protect clinical time while supporting lactation needs without overburdening other faculty.<br /><br />The policy has since expanded to lactating faculty and residents on inpatient teaching services, also reducing the team census and lowering the daily admission cap by one using the same “test” patient approach.<br /><br />Early results are positive: five women have used the policy, and all reported that it helped with lactation. Feedback suggests the accommodation significantly benefits lactating faculty without creating an appreciable increase in clinical burden for non-lactating colleagues. The overall message is that structured service adjustments can promote gender equity and better support physician parents during clinical service.

Asset Subtitle

Nancy Choi

Meta Tag

Author List Faye Chan, Jacklyn Lee, Jessica S. Fuller, Molly A. Kantor, Nancy Choi, Sirisha Narayana

Category Innovations

Concept Lactating Physician Faculty

Concept Pumping

Concept Lactation Accommodation Policy

Concept Census-Equalization Model

Concept Gender Equity

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of California San Francisco School of Medicine

Presenting Author Nancy Choi

Track Other

Keywords

hospital medicine

lactation accommodation

breastfeeding faculty

census equalization

parental leave

clinical duties

gender equity

pumping support

electronic health record

inpatient teaching services

Lactating Physician Faculty

Pumping

Lactation Accommodation Policy

Census-Equalization Model

Gender Equity