What to Expect at Your Clinic Visit

• At every clinic visit patients have a brief interview with the CF team outpatient nurse to review current health problems and medication use. The patient may be seen by a physician-in-training (medical student, intern, resident, or fellow) and by a primary CF physician.
• At least annually, and when indicated at any clinic visit, each family has a chance to speak with a nutritionist, a social worker and a respiratory therapist.  A clinical psychologist is available at every clinic for consultation concerning psychological problems.
• Make a list of questions for you to ask at the clinic visit and bring it along to your appointment.
• Take home copies of the clinic visit reports:
• Physical exam sheet lists height, weight, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), vital signs, physical exam notes by physician.
• History sheet is filled out by you before you see the physician, and by the physician when discussing the "interval" history (history since you were last seen in clinic).
• Medication list shows current medications. Please discuss this list thoroughly with the physician, including why you/your child need to use these medications.
• The "chart check" sheet will be mailed to you some time after the visit, when the test results are completed (e.g., culture). If the physician wants you to change a medication or wants to send a message, he/she will write it in the "recommendations" space at the bottom of the page. If no change, the "no change from clinic visit" box is checked. Note the bacteria found to grow in the throat or sputum culture. Become familiar with what you can do to get rid of those bacteria or to treat them so they cause as little lung damage as possible.

Flow Chart of Outpatient Clinic Visit

Annual Studies

Once each year a set of annual studies are done to measure several body system functions. These tests are very important to your health and CF care.

1. Blood Work
• liver, kidney, inflammation (ESR/ sed rate, CRP, etc.), nutrition, pancreas (blood sugar, hemoglobin A1C), general health (hemoglobin, white blood cells)
2. Respiratory Therapy Assessment
• The respiratory therapist will meet with you to review your therapy techniques. Please bring your black vest so the respiratory therapist can see if it fits properly.
3. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) 
• OGTT takes 2 hours and is done on patients age 5 and above. Preparation means having no food or fluids (NPO) after midnight before the test. Can be done at your local physician's office but he/she will need a specific order sheet set up by CF Center. 
4. Chest X-Ray
5. Aerosol Lung Scan  (if prescribed by physician)
6. Nutrition Assessment
• Done at OGTT appointment if done at Fairview-University Medical Center
• Please bring written 3-day history of meals/beverages taken before the assessment.
7. Quality of Life Assessment
• The social worker will consult with you to discuss quality of life issues.
8. Dexa Scan (bone density and body composition study)