Patients treated at the Vermont Cystic Fibrosis Center at Fletcher Allen Health Care and the University of Vermont are exceeding targets for lung function, nutrition and other key measures according to a national study that places the Center in the top ranks of 110 certified programs nationwide.
Major strengths of both the pediatric and adult programs at Fletcher Allen include following best practices for the number of visits and the amount and type of testing, achieving excellent outcomes in nutrition and lung function, and screening for complications such as CF-related diabetes. Highlights of the report include:
- One of only 12 Centers meeting goals for both nutrition and lung function in pediatric patients
- Pediatric program ranked 3rd in the appropriate amount of care and testing
- Adult program ranked 5th in the appropriate amount of care and testing
- Adult program ranked 5th in lung function for patients over 30 years old
“Our Center regularly performs well in the CFF report, but it’s gratifying to see that our patient outcomes continue to improve,” said Thomas Lahiri, M.D. medical director of the Vermont Cystic Fibrosis Center at Fletcher Allen, pediatric pulmonologist at the Vermont Children’s Hospital. “We’re especially pleased to know that our patients are experiencing excellent lung function from childhood through adulthood. This continued preservation of function, even in our patients over 30 years old, sets us apart from most centers,” continued Lahiri, who is also a professor at the UVM College of Medicine.
Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening condition affecting the lungs and digestive system, and it requires daily care and monitoring. In addition to providing patient care, the Center is a Therapeutic Development Center and participates in a variety of multi-center clinical trials. The Center also works closely with basic science researchers from the Vermont Lung Center at the University of Vermont.
Multimedia Resources: For more information on Cystic Fibrosis care at Fletcher Allen listen to this podcast interview with Dr. Lahiri, or visit this website.
About the Report
Each year, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation collects information on the health of the more than 27,000 people with CF who receive care at Foundation-accredited centers nationwide. The Foundation shares this information with the wider community through the Patient Registry Annual Data Report, which highlights progress made in cystic fibrosis care and areas where more work is needed. Overall the report shows steady gains in longevity and quality of life of CF patients.
About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The CFF is a nonprofit organization and leader in the search for a cystic fibrosis cure. Dedicated to funding CF research, they are a large supporter of the development of new drugs, improving quality of life for those with CF, and finding a cure.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Fletcher Allen, along with Central Vermont Medical Center, CVPH Medical Center and Elizabethtown Community Hospital, are members of Fletcher Allen Partners, established to develop a more coordinated system of care throughout the region. Fletcher Allen also serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.