MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) has awarded accreditation to the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program at the WVU Medicine Mountain State Cystic Fibrosis Center.
In order to receive accreditation, the program went through a rigorous application process that included a site visit, interviews with the multidisciplinary team, and a review of metrics like lung function, body mass index, and other factors impacting patient health, including quality improvement initiatives, clinical trials research, and community outreach.
“Gaining separate adult program accreditation through the CFF is recognition of the dedicated and high quality care we have been providing for people living with cystic fibrosis. This is a reflection of numerous years of hard work to grow the program to ensure we are meeting the needs of our patients and their families,” Lisa Costello, M.D., Adult Program director, said. “We will always have improvements to make and will continue to strive to get better, but are pleased the CFF recognized the significant improvements we have made over the past few years. This really was a team effort with commitment from the larger WVU Medicine organization, Medicine and Pediatrics departments, and numerous individuals including patients and families.”
The Mountain State Cystic Fibrosis Center is now part of the national network of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited care centers and has more than a decade of experience caring for adults and children with cystic fibrosis. Its leading-edge research and team approach result in the highest lung function for adults and children with cystic fibrosis in the state. This accreditation makes the Mountain State Cystic Fibrosis Center the first separately accredited adult program in the state.
“Thanks to research advances and care driven by the CF Foundation as well as CF Care Centers and the dedicated efforts of patients and their families, there are now more adults living with CF than children,” Dr. Costello said. “We want to be able to transition pediatric patients to adult care while ensuring we are providing the highest quality of care to the adult population, being a partner in their efforts to lead a longer, healthier, and more productive life with cystic fibrosis.”
To learn more about cystic fibrosis or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, please visit www.cff.org.