Cystic fibrosis is a complex genetic disease that affects about 30,000 people in the United States. Approximately one in 25 Americans carries a defective CF gene. The Rush Cystic Fibrosis Center offers a state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary team approach to the care and treatment of infants, children, adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis. Our mission is to provide a comprehensive scope of services of the highest quality to patients, while advancing knowledge through education and research. The Rush Cystic Fibrosis Center is fully accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and has been recognized as a “new model for providing comprehensive cystic fibrosis care” by the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference.

The Rush Cystic Fibrosis Center publishes a quarterly newsletter, Rush to Fight CF, to help keep the cystic fibrosis community informed. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, call (312) 563-2270. There is no charge for this publication. To download a copy of one of our recent newsletters (PDF format), choose one of the links at right under "Related Topics."

Services and care are tailored to each patient and focus on prevention and management of symptoms and disease progression. We offer both inpatient and outpatient care, provided according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation guidelines, which recommend outpatient visits at least every three months. We encourage preventive care, with an emphasis on optimizing nutrition and absorption and providing adequate airway clearance. At the same time, we make every effort to minimize disruptions in patients’ lives.

Services are wide-ranging and include:

• Diagnosis
• Outpatient clinics
• Administration of IV antibiotics, in the hospital or at home
• Aggressive treatment of pulmonary exacerbations and other acute illnesses

Adult patients are seen at Rush University Adult CF Center in Suite 054 of the Professional Building. Pediatric patients' outpatient visits are at the Pediatric Clinic, Suite 710, of the Professional Building.

The staff of the Rush Cystic Fibrosis Center is a multidisciplinary team, composed of physicians, nurses, a social worker, nutritionist, genetics specialist and respiratory therapists, who work together to manage all aspects of the illness and coordinate care. The team consists of both pediatric and adult specialists. We assure continuity of care regardless of age by meeting together as a team at least weekly. We make every effort to coordinate with patients’ primary care physicians and insurance providers. For more information about the cystic fibrosis team at Rush, see the link at right.