(Bethesda, MD) -- The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will be honored today in Washington, D.C., for remarkable leadership in improving the quality of care for people living with cystic fibrosis, by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

The outlook for people with CF continues to improve steadily each year because of programs fueled by the Foundation. In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, the predicted median age of survival for those with CF is more than age 37, and people with the disease go to college, pursue careers, get married and have families.

“We are honored to receive the Health Quality Award from NCQA for driving improvements in care for people with cystic fibrosis,” said Bruce Marshall, M.D., vice president of clinical affairs for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “Increasingly, we're learning that quality improvement efforts when applied to a chronic disease can have a dramatic impact on patients' lives.”

The Foundation supports and accredits a nationwide network of more than 115 care centers, which provide vital treatments and resources to patients and families. In 2002, the Foundation launched its quality improvement program to accelerate improvement in care. Since that time, key indicators of health for people with cystic fibrosis-including lung function and nutritional status-have increased across the Foundation's care center network. Improved lung function and nutrition leads to added years of life.

The Foundation was among the first health organizations to publish health outcomes data for its accredited care centers. The data is updated annually so people with CF can track the progress of their individual care centers. 

Each year, the NCQA presents Health Quality Awards to individuals and organizations that show an ongoing commitment to improving the quality of health care. Previous award recipients include Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and actress and advocate Mary Tyler Moore.

The NCQA is a private, not-for-profit organization devoted to improving the quality of health care by elevating the issue to the national level. 

About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the leading organization in the United States devoted to curing and controlling cystic fibrosis. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., the Foundation has more than 80 chapters and branch offices throughout the country and supports and accredits a nationwide network of 115 care centers. 

Media Contact

Laurie Fink, director of media relations: 301-841-2602, lfink@cff.org