Washington Adventist Hospital Receives 2011 Regional Award for Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace

Only one Hospital in Montgomery County Receives Recognition for Lactation Program

Takoma Park, MD—Washington Adventist Hospital has been selected as one of nine sites, and the only hospital in Montgomery County, to receive the 2011 Regional Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace Recognition Award. The hospital’s lactation program was honored with a Silver Level award, the second highest level.

The D.C. and Maryland Breastfeeding Coalitions established the Workplace Awards in 2010 to recognize local companies who are committed to providing breastfeeding support, education,time, and space for new mothers to breastfeed and/or pump breastmilk in the workplace.

“We are proud to be recognized as a local example of how to support mothers who wish to continue to breastfeed once they have returned to work,” said Judith Campbell, Lactation Consultant at Washington Adventist Hospital. “We truly care about the health and well-being of our employees and their families. Promotion and support for breastfeeding is an easy way to encourage healthy lifestyle choices.”

Research shows that businesses who offer breastfeeding accommodations benefit by saving money in health care expenses, reducing turnover rates, lowering absenteeism and increasing employee loyalty.

To be nominated for this award, businesses had to meet the criteria for workplace lactation support as outlined in the Business Case for Breastfeeding, 2010 Affordable Health Care Act, and Healthy People 2020 goals. These regulations require that employers provide nursing breaks and a private, sanitary place to express breast milk for mothers employed on an hourly basis.Washington Adventist Hospital is proud to support efforts in providing new mothers with acomfortable and accommodating environment to breastfeed.

“At Washington Adventist Hospital we strive to be the best place to work for our employees,” said Joyce Newmyer, President of Washington Adventist Hospital. “We are honored to receive this award and to continue to support our working mothers in every way we can”.

Washington Adventist Hospital is a 281-bed acute-care facility located in Takoma Park, Maryland. Washington Adventist Hospital is Montgomery County’s first cardiac center, performing hundreds of heartsurgeries and thousands of heart catheterizations each year. The Hospital is the first accredited Cycle III Chest Pain Center in the DC Metro Area. Washington Adventist Hospital is part of Adventist HealthCare, an integrated health-care delivery system based in Rockville, Maryland, that is one of the largest employers in the state of Maryland.