Adult CF Care at OHSU: Outpatient

Outpatient Care

  • If you are visiting our clinic for the first time, please make sure your previous team has provided you with enough medications to last through your first appointment with us
  • Complete the Pre-Visit Planning questionnaire sent to your MyChart account the week before your appointment.
  • Come early, but not too early. Please show up to the clinic no more than 20 minutes earlier than your given a arrival time. Unfortunately, the appointment time we give you does not account for checking in or the initial medical assistant evaluation which takes 15-20 minutes. Following this timeline will allow us to get you home sooner, prevent delays for other patients, and helps us in our infection prevention efforts.
  • Ask questions. We do our best to educate and treat you, but our first priority is making sure that we serve your needs.
  • Honesty is the best policy. We are not here to judge you. We want to offer treatments that will not only give you the best chance to keep you healthy, but also fit best with your lifestyle. We do like to be proactive in treating your CF, but you have the final say in your treatments. Help us help you.
  • Schedule your follow up appointment before leaving clinic. It is critical that we see patients at least 4 times per year to catch any issues early and respond quickly. 
  • Keep us updated on your progress when you are home. MyChart is a convenient way to convey non-urgent communications. Please keep in mind that your messages are a part of your medical record and can take a few days for a response.
  • Get established with a primary care provider (PCP) to assist with your non-CF medical issues. We are not experts in the majority of non-CF issues, but we are happy to coordinate care with your PCP.
  • Be prepared. Be aware that the average amount of time we attend to your CF needs is 90 minutes. Bring a snack and hydration. Bring a list of your medications and current medical providers to every visit. 

Clinic Appointments

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the OHSU CF Center generally recommend quarterly visits to your CF center with one visit each year with an MD. We encourage at least one in-clinic appointment yearly as well. Your visit frequency may differ depending on your individual case. 

If you are in need of immediate medical attention, please call 911 and/or proceed to your nearest emergency room. However, please contact us as soon as you can.  This will allow us to assist your local healthcare team in providing you the best care. If you are being seen by providers outside the OHSU system, please have them contact us.

Visits are by appointment only. If you have an urgent problem during regular business hours, or need to schedule an appointment, please call 503-418-6500. Select from the menu to reach the department or CF Care Team member you are wanting to speak with. See the Communicating With Your CF Team section for after-hours contact information.

Clinic Visit Options

We offer In-Person and Telehealth (video) appointments ​on Wednesday and Friday mornings. Telehealth visits are covered by most insurance plans, but it is a good idea to check with yours ahead of your visit.

In-Person

It is recommended you come to the clinic physically at least once yearly.  You will come to the clinic to see a CF Clinician, Registered Dietician, and Registered Nurse. You may also see a Pharmacist, Social Worker, Wellness Coordinator, and/or Research team member. Depending on the treatment plan, you will be asked to complete a lung function test (PFT) either in-clinic or via video appointment, labs, and/or imaging while on campus.

Telehealth (Video outside of clinic)

Telehealth visit options are available for established patients who are physically in Oregon or Washington at the time of the visit. Telehealth visits offer a safe, convenient way to connect with your CF Center team. You will meet with the CF team through a video chat or via phone call. If you have a home spirometer, you will be scheduled for a home PFT on or near your appointment date. Ask to be transferred to Kim Keeling, RT, to schedule. If you do not have a home spirometer, let us know where you would like us to send an order to complete lung function testing near you. This must be completed prior to your video visit.

For video visits you will need:

  • An OHSU MyChart account, and
  • Access to a smartphone or tablet (download the Cisco WebEx meeting app) or computer (using an Internet browser) with a working camera, and microphone
  • Access to a reliable Internet connection. 
  • Completed home spirometry or a local lung function test. 

Home Spirometry

Spirometry is one form of a pulmonary function test (PFT) and provides an important measure of your lung health. You can expect to complete PFTs as a part of your clinic visit whether it be in person or via video visit. To schedule a home spirometry video appointment, or if you are in need of a new spirometer device, please speak to Kim Keeling, RT. She can be reached at 503-494-7134. 

Pre-Visit Planning

You are an important member of your CF Care Team! In an effort to make the most of your visits with us, please let us know ahead of your visit if there are specific topics or concerns you would like to address during your visit. This will be shared with the team prior to your scheduled appointment. 

Communicating With Your CF Team

Call Us

If you are in need of immediate medical attention, please call 9-1-1 and/or proceed to your nearest emergency room. However, please contact us as soon as you can. If you are sick, have an urgent issue needing same day response, or need to schedule an appointment for follow up or a new issue please call us:
Weekdays 8 am -5 pm: 503-418-6500.   
After hours/weekends/holidays: 503-494-8311 (Urgent medical advice only. Ask for the adult lung doctor on call)

Patient Portal: MyChart (non-urgent messaging)

We strongly encourage you to sign up for MyChart which is a service provided to patients for free. This allows patients to access their medical record as well as send non-urgent messages to the CF team. We usually respond to MyChart messages quickly, however it can take up to 3 days. For more urgent matters, like medical advice or requests for antibiotics, please call.  

Click here if you are interested in signing up for an OHSU MyChart account. If you need help with accessing an existing account, please let us know when you check-in or give us a call.  

Click here for information about MyChart use and billing. 

Medication Refills

Refill requests should come directly from your pharmacy. Please contact your pharmacy 7 days prior to being out of your medication (10 days prior for mail order). If you are experiencing medication coverage issues, or have questions about your medications, please contact our CF Pharmacist by calling the clinic and selecting the pharmacist from the phone menu.