Cystic Fibrosis

We pursue excellence in clinical care, education, and research, and provide leadership by demonstrating state-of-the-art patient and family oriented diagnosis and care, exemplary teaching and ethical research.

Goals of our clinic

To be the tertiary/quaternary level pediatric health care resource for the province for the diagnosis and management of Cystic Fibrosis, and deliver the most advanced and efficient health care available, using a multidisciplinary team approach and chronic care model.
To effectively teach the principles of diagnosis and management of Cystic Fibrosis to health care professionals at all levels; to improve public understanding of this severe multisystem inherited disorder of membrane transport, and of the needs of these patients and their families; and to ensure that patients and families are provided with the knowledge and skills needed for participation in their own health care.
To foster ethical, scientific, basic and clinical research relevant to Cystic Fibrosis, and to the furtherance of knowledge of this disorder.

The Cystic Fibrosis Clinic is associated with Biochemical Diseases. Day-to-day management of the clinic is the responsibility of the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic medical director, who works closely with the clinic nurse coordinator, other clinic physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, secretary, social worker, and other health professionals.

Our team

Physicians

Dr. Mark Chilvers, Clinic Director
Dr. Connie Yang
Dr. Jonathan Rayment

Clinical fellows/residents/trainees

Dr. Rica de la Paz
Dr. Clara Elviro

Clinic nurses

Anna Gravelle
Caroline Burgess
Emily Worden
Angela Nowak

Dietitian

Christine Loong

Physiotherapists

Nicole Lee-Son
Melissa Richmond

Pharmacist

Eva Cho

Social worker

Sara Thiessen

Administrative assistant

Jonathan De Guzman

Associations

Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) was established in 1960 by a group of concerned parents to raise awareness and funds to help find a cure, or an effective control, for cystic fibrosis. The Foundation's mandate is to "help individuals with cystic fibrosis principally by funding CF research, and by supporting high quality clinical and transplant care". The CCFF has a national office, and over 52 local chapters across the country; in British Columbia, there are 8 chapters. As part of its mandate, the CCFF supports over 30 CF clinics across Canada, including the clinic at BCCH. The CF clinic at BC Children's Hospital maintains a close relationship with the CCFF at both a national and provincial level. Please see the CCFF website at www.cysticfibrosis.ca for further information.
BC Children's Hospital Foundation
Child & Family Research Institute
BC Pediatric Society
University of British Columbia, Department of Pediatrics

Transition pathway

In our clinic patients are followed through a clinical pathway. It helps to assess individuals' understanding of the cystic fibrosis and readiness to transition to the adult CF clinic. It includes:

Practice guidelines

Hospital-based management for cystic fibrosis patients (pediatric)

If an admission is required, in almost all cases we recommend hospitalization at BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver instead of a community hospital. This is because our hospital and clinic staff has more experience with this complex condition and its specialized treatment requirements. Since CF is a relatively uncommon condition, most community hospitals can not develop this expertise and do not have staff experienced in dealing with the unique requirements of CF patients.

Physician admission orders for cystic fibrosis patients

These order sheets have been developed by the CF clinic at BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC. They are intended to be used as a general guideline; these orders might not apply to all the patients and must be exercised carefully.

To view or download please click on the following links (PDF): Page 1, Page 2, Page 3 and Page 4.