Policies and Procedures
Mission Statement
Tailored Lactation aims to empower parents in San Diego to feed their baby their way, with up-to-date information, personalized goal-setting, and supportive strategies.
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IBLCE Code of Professional Conduct
I adhere to the IBLCE Code of Professional conduct as found here.
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Non-Discrimination Policy
Tailored Lactation does not discriminate against employees, business associates, or clients on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, sex, gender identity, sexuality, religion, physical ability, or marital status.
Tailored Lactation is an inclusive practice and acknowledges that not all lactating persons identify as female or use the word mother.
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Tailored Lactation seeks continuing education on cultural competency, inclusivity, racial inequities, and LGBTQIA concerns in order to provide the best possible care to all families.
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Services Provided
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Lactation Visits
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Lactation Professional Mentorship
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Facilitating Support Groups
Location
Client’s home: (up to 30 miles from Tierrasanta)
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Average Length of Initial Visit: 90 minutes
Average Length of Follow Up Visit: 60 minutes
Average Length of any other visit type: 60-90 minutes
Regular Business Hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200 plus occasional evening & weekend appointments
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Visit Policies
Tailored Lactation provides all prospective clients with a Consent for Care. This form will be provided to the client when scheduling the visit, and must be signed before Ashlyn Skelton, BSN, RN, PHN, IBCLC travels to the client’s home. Client has the right to refuse any treatment or intervention offered, and this refusal will be documented. All attempts to continue a comprehensive visit will be made, and client will be informed of any limitations which arise from honoring Client’s refusal of treatment or intervention.
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For home visits, all pets must be secure in a separate room behind a closed door or in a crate for the duration of the visit. Tailored Lactation must be notified of any service animals who will be present prior to the visit.
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Client may grant consent for others to be present during the visit. These names must be provided to Tailored Lactation in advance and will be collected as part of the Consent for Care.
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Cancellation Policies
If client cancels the visit for any reason, $50 cancelation fee will apply. Tailored Lactation reserves the right to refuse to reschedule the visit.
If Tailored Lactation must cancel an appointment for any reason, no charges to the client will apply. Tailored Lactation reserves the right to cancel appointments for any reason without notice.
Communications
Phone, Email, postal service or fax as requested
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Prospective Clients
Tailored Lactation maintains a website at https://www.tailoredlactation.com hosted by Wix. Contact phone number and email address are publicly posted. Website has a contact form that accepts submissions; data from this contact form is stored.
When a phone call, email, and/or text comes in from a prospective client comes in, the policy is to:
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Send a text message or email reply within 48 hours
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Send a link to my online scheduler
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Send a link to my website for more information on my services
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Tailored Lactation does not provide clinical support or counseling to prospective clients
Current Clients
Clients receive 2 weeks of follow up support by email and/or secure messaging as part of their fee for services, to include services paid via insurance.
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Secure Messaging
Tailored Lactation provides secure messaging to established clients through
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Encrypted and secure email via Gsuite, preferred method of Tailored Lactation
Secure messages will be replied to
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Within 48 hours
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During business hours
Follow-Up Communication regarding each visit
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Will be sent within 24 hours
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Client will receive the same report sent to providers, and notified to whom the report will be sent. The email will include references, referrals, and other information discussed during the visit.
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Report will be sent to Infant’s provider for every visit, unless documented otherwise
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Report will be sent to Client’s provider, if there is anything remarkable to report on Client, or at Client’s request
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Social Media Communications
Tailored Lactation may maintain private social media accounts for personal use. Connection or direct message requests made by clients or prospective clients through these platforms will be redirected to website/email communication.
Tailored Lactation maintains public social media accounts for marketing purposes on the following platforms: Instagram, WIX website. All photos appear by express permission of the owner of the photo and all persons appearing in the photo. No client photos or videos will be published without express written consent. Clients and/or their minor children will not be named in posts on social media without express written consent.
Tailored Lactation will not provide direct clinical support or counseling or advice on any social media platform, either public or private. Public accounts are for marketing purposes only, to offer general information.
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Website Communications
Website Terms and Conditions are publicly posted on the website for Tailored Lactation.
HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices is publicly posted on the website for Tailored Lactation.
Contact form entries via the website are stored
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In the Wix platform
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Prospective Client may request an appointment via ChARMhealth
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Client to IBCLC relationship is established upon signature of Consent for care, Privacy and Payment policies
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Client’s email is stored in Gsuite platform with appropriate security & privacy measures
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Tailored Lactation abides by all federal, provincial, state, and local regulations regarding copyright. No text, image, or graphic content will appear without the express permission of the copyright or trademark holder.
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Security Policies
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Record Retention Policies
Tailored Lactation is subject to the record retention laws of CA, and is required to keep client records until 21 years after an in-person visit. Records include email correspondence, and Electronic Health Record.
Clients may request a copy of their chart or that of their minor child at any point during the record retention period. Request must be made in writing to the listed address for Tailored Lactation. Receipt of the request will be acknowledged by Tailored Lactation and records will be mailed within 30 days of acknowledgement of the request.
Tailored Lactation provides records for free within 6 months of the last in-person visit; after this period, a fee of $25 will be charged and must be paid in advance.
Physical Security
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Client files are digital, but paper charting is back-up, in the case of technological failure
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Physical records are scanned as soon as possible, and entered into Client’s file, then shredded before disposal.
Digital Security
Compliance with Privacy Regulations
Tailored Lactation is in compliance with all applicable federal and provincial/state regulations with respect to the use of technology for healthcare.
Notice of Privacy Practices is publicly posted on the website for Tailored Lactation.
Devices
All devices used for client care will be secured by a passcode and/or biometric identification.
Platforms
Tailored Lactation uses Google Workspace for client care. The following safeguards are in place:
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Password protection
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Two-factor identification
Services
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Tailored Lactation will not use any free cloud-based services for client communication or file storage.
Email services and document storage are provided through:
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G-Suite, with a Business Associates Agreement for HIPAA compliance
Phone services are provided through:
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T-Mobile
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Website
Website Terms and Conditions are posted publicly on the website https://www.tailoredlactation.com
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Personal Policies
Ashlyn Skelton, BSN, RN, PHN, IBCLC is receiving COVID-19 vaccination.
Ashlyn Skelton, BSN, RN, PHN, IBCLC actively pursues continuing education related to lactation management, infant and child development, parental wellness, communication skills and cultural competence.
Ashlyn Skelton, BSN, RN, PHN, IBCLC is a mandatory reporter for signs of child abuse or neglect, elderly abuse, and domestic violence. This does not include investigation or confirmation. She will call County Social Services Department's Child Protective Services Child Abuse Hotline at (858) 560-2191 or (800) 344-6000, according to guidelines provided.
https://www.sandiego.gov/police/services/prevention/victimresources/reportchildabuse
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Gift policies:
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Tailored Lactation accepts gifts from clients when services are concluded.
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If applicable, gifts may be donated to San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation, or The Wounded Warrior Project.
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Tailored Lactation refuses or destroys any and all donations, gifts, samples, or services from any company or subsidiary company not in compliance with the WHO Code of the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
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The policy of Tailored Lactation is to purchase all necessary supplies at retail and/or wholesale if appropriate.
For home visits:​
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I will remove my shoes.
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I will wash my hands.
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I may request to use the bathroom in a client’s home.
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Updated 07/01/2025