A $100K grant helps hospital open lactation clinic in Babylon

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West Islip-based Good Samaritan University Hospital has opened a lactation clinic. Set  outside a hospital environment in Babylon, the new clinic is thanks in part to a $100,000 grant from the John C. Dunphy Private Foundation.

The St. Anne Lactation Partners Pediatric Specialty Care Center, at the Catholic Health Physician Partners Pediatric Specialty Care Centerat at 655 Deer Park Avenue, is designed to improve access to care and overall breastfeeding after delivery and discharge from the hospital.

“We created the St. Anne Outpatient Lactation Clinic to support women who are experiencing breastfeeding difficulties and to improve the post-delivery experience for new moms and their babies,” Good Samaritan’s Chair of Obstetrics & Gynecology Dr. John Vullo said in a written statement.

“By providing educational, clinical and emotional support in a convenient location, we are deepening our commitment to newborns and their mothers,” he added.

Breastfeeding is considered one of the most effective preventive measures a mother can take to strengthen and protect the health of both her infant and herself, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While inpatient breastfeeding support is readily available, continued support after discharge can be difficult for some new mothers.

To improve access to care, Good Samaritan initiated an interdisciplinary collaboration with its mother-baby care team and the hospital foundation, along with the John C. Dunphy Foundation, which aims to improve the quality of life for people and service organizations in local communities. An additional grant was provided by the Guilds of Good Samaritan University Hospital, the hospital’s volunteer organization.

“The John C. Dunphy Private Foundation, Inc. is thrilled to be part of this great program,” said the  foundations’ secretary and communications officer Karlyn Grasso, said in a written statement. “The need for this type of education and support amongst women and their families is critical. We hope to see more programs like this develop over the years to come. Good Samaritan truly led the way to address an underserved need in our communities.”