‘Mother’s Rooms’ provide comfort for employees, big savings for facilities

When mothers return to work after having children, they often face an issue that may never cross the mind of their male coworkers: finding a proper lactation facility. According to a new analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology (ACR), radiology departments and practices have ethical, legal and financial reasons to provide such facilities for employees—but not all departments comply.

Lead author Kristin Kelly Porter, MD, PhD, of the Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, and colleagues wrote about how “increased demand” led to their own radiology department gaining a brand new “Mother’s Room” back in 2014.

“Breastfeeding is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for at least one year, and protected time and location for lactation is supported by federal legislation,” the authors wrote. “Given these recommendations, the legislative imperative and myriad health benefits for mother, child and society, the ACR Commission for Women and General Diversity and the ACR Commission on Human Resources have urged radiology and radiation oncology practices, academic or private, to seek financially feasible methods of providing lactation facilities and reasonable time for their eligible employees, including residents and fellows.”

The department’s leadership, Porter et al. explained, set aside specific space for the Mother’s Room during a large renovation project. And for a total of approximately $12,000, the room was built, complete with a refrigerator for storing milk, a microwave, seating, regular sanitation services and more. The department also worked closely with a WorkLife office, which provided consultation and helped ensure the room was properly designed and stocked with supplies.

Departments will not always have a large amount of space to set aside for such a room, and the authors acknowledged such limitations, saying creative solutions are sometimes necessary.

“Large, underutilized rooms may be divided or large storage closets can oftentimes be renovated to meet the requirements for lactation spaces,” they wrote. “Additionally, this space can be maximized by using privacy drapes to increase available lactation stations.”

Besides finding available space, another hurdle some radiology departments may encounter is that management does not see the value in providing a lactation facility. However, as Porter and colleagues explained, such a room can prove to be quite valuable.

“There are substantial cost savings, including decreased absenteeism, reduced healthcare–related and pharmacy charges, and lower employee turnover rates, when lactation programs and facilities are implemented,” the authors wrote. “The insurance company Mutual of Omaha and a meta-analysis study by Tuttle and Slavit documented a savings of nearly $116,000 per breastfeeding program participant, in addition to excess costs incurred of approximately $2,100 per pregnant employee who did not participate in the studied program.”

‘Kudos and blessings’

The WorkLife office also tracked how many times the room—and others like it throughout the hospital—was visited.

“In calendar year 2015, the WorkLife office tracked 27,044 visits to the Mother’s Rooms across the institution and the Radiology Department Mother’s Room accounted for 323 of those visits in only its first four months of being available to working mothers,” the authors wrote. “The Radiology Department–sponsored Mother’s Room had exponential growth in the number of visits across the first four months as word of its availability spread.”

Porter and colleagues noted that working mothers in the department were quick to express their gratitude that the office had been opened. “I am glad I work in an institute which ensures mothers return to work without a worry,” one employee said. “Wonderful initiative; kudos and blessings.”