CHICAGO, Jan. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) today announced the expansion of its PFF Care Center Network with the selection of 12 additional sites, bringing the total number of medical centers to 21 in 20 states. Launched in 2013, the PFF Care Center Network is comprised of leading medical centers with specific expertise in treating pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a group of lung disorders including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) that are often difficult to diagnose and manage and that are associated with survival rates of less than five years following diagnosis in certain diseases. 

"As the leading advocate for the pulmonary fibrosis community, we are dedicated to advancing the care of people living with this deadly disease, and this starts with providing greater access to experienced care teams," said Gregory P. Cosgrove, M.D., chief medical officer of the PFF. "Working together, institutions within the Network will identify and share best practices, which foster better care and ultimately enable more institutions that embrace these practices to be certified as a PFF Care Center site."

As part of the selection process, a panel of peer reviewers, comprised of current members of the PFF Board of Directors, Medical Advisory Board, PFF Care Center Network and PFF Patient Registry Steering Committee, reviewed and scored applications.

"When selecting sites to add to the PFF Care Center Network, we consider a center's specific programs and its geographic location in order to best serve the needs of the broader pulmonary fibrosis community," said Kevin Flaherty, M.D., M.S., chairman of the Steering Committee of the PFF Care Center Network. "The new centers selected provide the highest quality patient care and an individualized approach to treatment in accordance with best evidence-based recommendations. We welcome these new centers and look forward to continuing to expand the Network in the coming year."

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Care Center Network

The PFF Care Center Network uses a multidisciplinary approach to deliver comprehensive patient care, forming specialized care teams comprised of experts in interstitial lung disease in pulmonary medicine, rheumatology, radiology and pathology. This multidisciplinary approach is critical to managing a complex disease like PF and ensuring people with PF receive an accurate diagnosis, obtain quality clinical care, and acquire important support services.

The institutions newly certified as PFF Care Center Network sites include:

• Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
• Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
• Medical University of South Carolina
• New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
• Piedmont Healthcare
• The University of Arizona Interstitial Lung Disease Program at the University of Arizona Medical Center-University Campus in Tucson
• The University of Kansas Hospital
• Tulane University School of Medicine
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
• University of Pennsylvania
• Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition in which, over a period of time, lung tissue becomes thickened, stiff and scarred. The development of the scar tissue is called fibrosis. As the lung tissue becomes scarred and grows thicker, the lungs lose their ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. As a result, the brain and other organs don't receive enough oxygen. In some cases, doctors can determine the cause of the fibrosis, but in many cases, there is no known cause. When the cause of the fibrosis is unknown (and certain pathologic or radiographic criteria are met), the disease is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or IPF. There is no cure for IPF. Presently, there are two FDA-approved treatments for IPF in the U.S.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is to serve as the trusted resource for the pulmonary fibrosis (PF) community by raising awareness, providing disease education, advancing care and funding research. The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, people with PF and caregivers worldwide. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity. The PFF's Summit 2015: From Bench to Bedside, its third biennial international healthcare conference, will be held November 12-14, 2015 in Washington, D.C. For more information visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733) or +1 312.587.9272 from outside of the U.S.

For Media Inquiries:
Michelle Michael
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
312.239.6628
mmichael@pulmonaryfibrosis.org

Kelli Kampanis
W2O Group
212.301.7172
kkampanis@w2ogroup.com

For General Inquiries:
PFF Patient Communication Center
844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733)
pcc@pulmonaryfibrosis.org

SOURCE The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

Related Links

http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org