CF center differences

[anonymous]

Hello everyone,

It's been so long since I've posted. We've had some big changes in our home recently. We've moved out of state, so everything has been a bit chaotic. I've missed coming to the board and hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy.

I just thought I'd throw this out there out of curiosity. Since moving out of state, we are visiting a new CF clinic. It is so completely different than the one we recently came from so I obviously have some questions and concerns. This new clinic has some strengths, but overall, I prefer the clinic I just moved from probably because it's what I'm used to. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

I'm wondering if anyone goes to a clinic that uses an "isolation policy" with their patients (gowns down, masks, gloves, the works) vs. work clothes with no gloves, etc. I'm just looking for thoughts and any pros and cons you think each approach has. I'm not looking for a germ debate by any means. I'm just dealing with 2 different centers here with very different approaches and wanted your thoughts.

Thanks!

Carey

 

[LoveShines4Austin]

Hello,

Our clinics are 3 hours south of us in Sacramento, Californina at the University Of California Davis. We attend a Pulmonary clinic for his CF and an Endocrine Clinic for his diabetes. We go every 3 months. I hate the drive and if I ever win the lottery, I will pay specialists to come up here to Redding and take care of all the CF patients.

I'm a Certified Medical Assistant when I am able to work, and I find that our clinics are pretty "informal". I myself wish that it were a more "sterile" environment. There are the usual signs that ask you to inform the receptionist if your child has chicken pocks and they will give you a mask if your child is coughing or has any other symptoms of an infection disease. The doctors all wash their hands before and after they examine the patients but I don't see any of those hand sanitizing dispensers. There are no gloves used unless blood is being drawn.

I don't know if any of this helps or not. Good luck with your new clinic <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

Hi,

I am going to a clinic with an isolation policy - they have even eliminated waiting rooms - cf outpatients are immediately placed in a room that has been disinfected, etc. Every time a nurse, doctor, nutritionist, etc. enters my room, they must put on a gown, purrell their hands, and wear gloves. During normal outpatient clinic visits, masks aren't used. They will use sterile gloves, masks, etc. when changing dressings on an IV, where risks are greater.

When I go in for IV's, I am pretty restricted to my room - although, much of this is self-imposed - technically, they would let me walk around. However, the hospital does have a policy of spreading CF patients around - inpatients with B. Ceph. are isolated in an entirely different floor, with an entirely different staff, and CF patients are not permitted to be in the same room with each other (technically, there is an exception for siblings).

Of course, this is all very different from what I remember at earlier clinics I have used. When I was younger, I don't know how I would have felt about the isolation policy. However, now that I am older, and understand the risks of cross-contamination, I am comforted by it.

If you have questions about why the policy is in place, I would highly recommend asking your nurses/ physician to explain it.

Chris

25 w/cf

 

[anonymous]

THanks for your ideas so far, Laurel and Chris. Chris, the clinic you are currently seeing sounds much like the one we just moved from. I've sort of got two extremes now. I came from a clinic that followed the isolation policy - we've known no different. The clinic I'm taking my son to now is just the opposite. I didn't see any hand washing, (of course no gowns, masks, or gloves) and CF patients were not really separated from each other. To this new clinic's credit, I loved some of the ideas they implemented. I know that moving clinics will always be an adjustment, but I also want my son to have the very best overall care possible. We've talked about just going back to the other clinic on a three month basis but it's a 7 hour drive. Plus, I'd feel more comfortable having someone locally that knows my son's needs! What to do....

Carey

 

[65rosessamurai]

If I were to rate the CF centers in Japan, on a scale of 1 to 10, I'd have to give it a ZERO!

Honestly, Since I'm considering on returning to Colorado Springs, where my family lives, It's comforting to know I'd be going to one of the highest ranking centers (Jewish Hospital) when I get there. I just hope they're in the top ten if I don't return for another four years!

If they're strict about germ isolation, I'm in for a shock, I haven't been to a CF clinic in over a decade! I just hope the waiting time in the waiting room isn't as long as it used to be.

 

[JazzysMom]

I dont know about other clinics, Fred. But with mine (which still combines adults & kids) they schedule people so even if you wait for a bit its not in the main waiting room. You are far enough apart in appointments so you dont have to be directly "exposed" to anyone. I have had times that I was running VERY late because of traffic & stuff & still didnt have any problems. I know that I have an exceptional group, but the CFF guidelines for the patients dictates how most centers have to handle the amount & exposure of the patients.

 

[anonymous]

National Jewish (the adult clinic in Denver) doesn't seem to have an isolation policy; however, everytime I go, with the exception of waiting to pay my copayment, as soon as I get back to the clinic area, I am whisked away to an exam room. The docs/nurses don't mask up or use gloves, but there is frequent hand washing...

Amy

36 w/CF

 

[HollyCatheryn]

My old clinic didn't do this, but my new one has some sterile policies. If you come in sick (contagious), have MRSA or Cepacia, you are given a mask to wear in the waiting room. We are all given gloves to wear when we touch common equipment (PFTs) and the docs all wash their hands in our rooms. I think it is fine and makes good sense. It isn't an isolation policy because we still have the waiting room and if you have a friend there, you can sit and talk in each other's rooms and they don't care. The docs wear normal garb.

 

[anonymous]

Thanks for everyon's input. I guess it's pretty normal to have a "regular clinic" without the extras that I was used to (isolation policay, gowns, masks, gloves, etc. etc.) I think I will bring this up to my new clinic, however. I'd like their input on what they think is best. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again! CareY <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">