Lactation Facilities in US Radiology Practices.
OBJECTIVE
Despite federal and state laws mandating lactation facilities for eligible employers, no reliable data exist regarding the availability of lactation facilities in the radiology workforce. To fill this void, the ACR Commission on Human Resources added new questions to its annual electronic survey to better understand this aspect of the workforce situation for radiologists.


METHODS
As done annually, the Practice of Radiology Environment Database was utilized to identify leaders of radiology practices, who were asked to complete an electronic survey developed by the ACR Commission on Human Resources. Among other questions, leaders were asked, "Does your radiology or radiation oncology practice have a dedicated lactation facility?"


RESULTS
Overall, 579 of 1,815 (32%) practice group leaders responded to the survey. Of 579, 394 responded to lactation question. Of 394, 51 (13%) reported affirmatively that they do have dedicated lactation facilities, and 343 of 394 (87%) responded that they do not have dedicated lactation facilities.


CONCLUSIONS
The vast majority of radiology and radiation oncology practices in the United States do not have dedicated lactation facilities; given the numerous benefits to breastfeeding mothers and babies, this impacts not only women but also men given that they too would like to have healthy colleagues with minimal absenteeism.
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Imaging, New York, New York. Electronic address: ela9033@med.cornell.edu.
Elizabeth Kagan
EK
Arleo
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Jay R
JR
Parikh
American Institute for Radiologic Pathology, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Darcy
D
Wolfman
Department of Medical Imaging, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Edward
E
Bluth
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D000072263:Private Facilities / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D000072177:Radiologists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011871:Radiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
Radiology; breastfeeding; lactation facility; maternity