Choosing Quality Healthcare

Here are some tips for including quality in your healthcare decisions. Such decisions involve CF care centers, treatments, health plans and you.

Look for a CF care center that:

• Has received accreditation by the CF Foundation;
  
  
• Is working to improve the quality of care they provide;
  
  
• Has the training and experience to meet your needs;
  
  
• Takes steps to prevent illness — for example, will talk to you about getting the screening tests or is working to avoid the spread of germs;
  
  
• Will work with you to make decisions about your or your child’s healthcare;
  
  
• Can get you or your child admitted to, or treated at, a hospital with experience in caring for CF;
  
  
• Will partner and communicate with your primary healthcare provider;
  
  
• Is part of your health plan.
  

When choosing a treatment, make sure you understand:

• When and how soon problems need to be treated;
  
  
• Your treatment options;
  
  
• The benefits and risks of each treatment;
  
  
• The costs of each treatment;
  
  
• Whether the treatments are based on the latest scientific evidence.
  

Make sure you have a health plan that:

• Allows you to use an accredited CF care center;
  
  
• Allows you to use a pharmacy and hospital familiar with CF care;
  
  
• Provides the benefits (CF medicines and covered services) you need;
  
  
• Provides services where and when you need them;
  
  
• Does a good job of helping people stay well and get better;
  
  
• Has been given high ratings by its members on the things that are important
  to you.

Additional Resources

• Find a CF Foundation-accredited care center near you.
  
  
• Know Your Health Insurance Coverage 
  Read this pamphlet to learn more about health insurance.
  
  
• CF Services Pharmacy 
  Personalized services, patient advocacy and reimbursement support.
  
  
• CF Patient Assistance Foundation
  A non-profit organization that provides financial assistance for select FDA-approved medications and medical devices for the treatment of CF lung disease.
  
  
• CF Virtual Education Day Web casts
  Watch archived Web casts covering a wide range of topics about cystic fibrosis care, including quality improvement.

Updated 02/19/10