Cystic Fibrosis in Primary Care - An Essential Guide to a Complex, Multi-System Disease

Cystic fibrosis is a disease that affects the entire body. It tends to be thought of as primarily a pulmonary disease since pulmonary decline is the main factor in early mortality. Because of the multi-system nature of the disease, a better understanding of cystic fibrosis expands the family physician's understanding of subjects ranging from genetics to pulmonary function to nutrition to colon transport to hydration to electrolyte management. The primary care philosophy is unique in that it always considers how a narrow problem can affect an individual globally. Cystic Fibrosis care can often feel fractured to patients as they are sent to multiple specialists to deal with problems outside of the comfort level of a prior or current specialist. With a broad medical philosophy, care is more inclusive as clinicians can manage topics such as diabetes and preventive care without multiple referrals and additional appointments. Family physicians are well-positioned and well-qualified to competently meet many of the care needs of those with cystic fibrosis.
This book is edited by a family medicine physician who has specialist level experience with the disease. It opens with a background on cystic fibrosis foundations and centers to familiarize the reader. The next chapter gives a basic overview of the disease. Each of the subsequent chapters provide a comprehensive look at how cystic fibrosis affects other areas of the body that the primary care physician should be familiar with. Major components of cystic fibrosis such as physiology, spirometry, inflammation, airway clearance, chronic infection, cystic fibrosis related diabetes and pancreatic insufficiency, among others, are thoroughly explained. 
 
Written by experts in the field, Cystic Fibrosis in Primary Care appeals to all family physicians as well as specialists, residents, medical students physician assistants and nurse practitioners alike.

Douglas Lewis, MD, FAAFP
Via Christi Regional Medical Center
St. Joseph Family Medicine Clinic
Wichita, Kansas, USA

Dr. Lewis is a family practitioner at Via Christi St. Joseph Family Medicine Clinic. His interest in cystic fibrosis began in 2008 from personal experience. At this time, the adult Cystic Fibrosis clinic at his institution had been shut down. The clinic administrator knew of Dr. Lewis' research on cystic fibrosis and asked him to consider joining one of the pulmonologists who had interest in re-establishing the adult clinic. Dr. Lewis accepted and has been co-operating the Via Christi Adult CF Specialty Clinic since 2011. He is also a clinical assistant professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. He teaches in the department of family and community medicine.