The Minnesota Cystic Fibrosis Center at University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview is the only fully accredited cystic fibrosis (CF) center in Minnesota, and one of the first accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It is recognized for excellence and leadership, nationally and internationally in CF care.

For 45 years, the Minnesota Cystic Fibrosis Center at University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview has pioneered CF care for patients from Minnesota, across the nation and around the world. CF experts, specialists, psychologists, social workers, genetic counselors and families work together to provide the very best in CF care.

Highest Survival Rate

As one of the originally chartered National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation members, our decades of experience, leading edge research and patient outcomes, combined with our team approach to CF care, help us demonstrate the highest patient median CF patient survival rate among CF Centers in the nation.  A comprehensive and coordinated care focus allows the Minnesota Cystic Fibrosis Center to establish outstanding outcomes that serve as the premiere standard for CF care in this region:

• The annual mortality rate for patients receiving care at the Minnesota Cystic Fibrosis Center has remained at two percent or less for nearly four decades, despite the fact that the number of CF patients in our care has increased from 16 to more than 500 and the age range has increased from newborn to 14 years to newborn to 65 years of age.
• The median survival age has increased from 2 1/2 to 47 years old.
• Additional Minnesota Cystic Fibrosis Center acheivements

Multi-Specialty Care

Because CF often affects many of the body’s organs and functions, and related complications can vary by patient age, our CF experts, specialists, geneticists, counselors and families work together as a team.  Our integrated, collaborative, multi-specialty team approach ensures the most comprehensive care is provided to each patient.  Together, our CF experts, specialists, geneticists, counselors and families provide comprehensive care and support to each patient.

Recognized nationally and internationally as a top CF site for excellence and leadership in CF care, the Minnesota Cystic Fibrosis Center is one of only 18 Therapeutic Development Network Centers in the United States – a distinction of our expertise and leadership in CF research.

Parent Advocacy and Advisory Council

The Parent Advocacy and Advisory Council (PAAC) was formed as part of a quality initiative program to improve the care each patient receives.  This group is dedicated to making sure that parents' input is heard.  We believe families are the patient’s primary strength and support and are key partners in the interdisciplinary team. Contact PAAC at mnpaac@yahoo.com

Early and Aggressive Treatment

The philosophy of The Minnesota Cystic Fibrosis Center is to diagnose and start appropriate treatment at as early an age as possible to prevent or attenuate the rate of disease progression. The Newborn Screening Program, at the Center, is a comprehensive program for the diagnostic evaluation of infants testing positive for CF on newborn screening. The program also includes a comprehensive therapeutic program for infants that are ultimately diagnosed with the disease.

The Minnesota Cystic Fibrosis Center places strong emphasis on a prophylactic approach to some of the complications of CF, particularly those related to the pulmonary manifestations of the disease.

Patients and families learn that CF, historically a fatal disease of infant and young children, is now compatible with life well into adulthood, if complications can be prevented or delayed. With the realization that children with CF can realistically look forward to living a productive adult life, hope replaces fear.

CF is a life long problem and we believe the best survival and best health will come when CF care is given in continuity by a team of CF caregivers from the moment of diagnosis throughout life. Our center includes pediatric and adult pulmonary specialists as primary caregivers, as well as pediatric and adult subspecialty consultants.