Care Centers

There is a network of more than 130 cystic fibrosis care centers at hospitals across the country. They are sometimes called CF clinics. At the care centers, dedicated health care professionals partner with people living with CF and their families to provide expert CF care and specialized disease management. Care centers help people living with CF live longer, healthier, more fulfilling lives. 

The Highest Quality of Care 

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation funds and accredits care centers. These centers offer comprehensive, high-quality care. This high level of specialized care has led to longer, more fulfilling lives for people living with CF.

Care centers also participate in clinical research. And they help educate doctors, nurses, and health care teams about CF and the care required to help achieve and maintain the best possible health. To maintain CF Foundation accreditation, each center goes through a review every year and periodic site visits. This ensures a high standard of care at each care center.

The CF Foundation's care center network combines clinical research with medical care best practices. The National Institutes of Health has cited the network as a model of effective and efficient health care delivery for a chronic disease.

Regular Care Center Visits 

Visiting your care center is a very important part of managing your health with CF. During these visits, your CF care team will work with you to develop and revise your treatment plan and monitor your health.

Care centers use pulmonary function tests, sputum or throat cultures, and blood tests, among other ways to monitor your health status. These tests can detect small decreases in lung function or a germ growing in the lungs before you feel them. This can help your CF care team take steps to prevent these issues from getting worse and causing bigger problems. Contact your care center any time you're unsure about whether or not you should seek care.

Sweat tests, the most reliable way to diagnose CF, are also done at Foundation-accredited care centers.

The CF Foundation is committed to creating and promoting a model of medical care that improves the health and extends the lives of people with cystic fibrosis. To help care centers provide high-quality CF care, the Foundation develops clinical care guidelines. Guidelines are based on the latest research, medical evidence, and consultation with experts. Learn more about the Foundation's clinical care guidelines.

Since cystic fibrosis is a complex disease, it requires a team approach with you or your child at the center. Your care team includes a group of CF health professionals who partner with you to provide specialized, comprehensive CF care. Learn more about your CF care team.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation funds and accredits CF care centers and affiliate programs at teaching and community hospitals across the country. These care centers offer comprehensive, high-quality care for those living with CF.

We encourage you to partner with your care team and find ways to make your or your child's health, and the quality of your care, the best it can be. Learn about or find a care center near you.

The CF Foundation Patient Registry collects information on the health status of people with CF who get care at Foundation-accredited care centers and agree to participate. This information is used to improve CF care at the care centers and is available to the CF community. Learn about the Patient Registry.