At Community Medical Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center, Registered Dietitians (RD) and credentialed Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) provide WIC services, and they also work in the health clinics. This shared staffing approach started 20 years ago with RDs working part-time in WIC and part-time in the clinics to provide services for patients in the Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP) and Sweet Success Diabetes Program. It has evolved with RDs also providing medical nutrition therapy for clinic patients and, more recently, with lactation experts shared between WIC and the clinics.
Sharing staff integrates WIC with clinic services and facilitates more in-depth care coordination for patients.
This fact sheet summarizes the staff coordination process, outcomes, and success strategies.