WHAT PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS MUST KNOW ABOUT CYSTIC FIBROSIS

Key words: Cystic fibrosis, Neonatal screening, Protocols of care, Primary care physician

The medical care of the patient with CF is ideally carried out with the joint efforts of the CF Center specialists and the patient’s primary care physician (PCP). The implementation of a nation-wide neonatal screening may represent a unique opportunity for an early care by both CF Centers and PCPs and for sharing protocols of care, which are summarized in the present article. CF Centers and scientific communities should understand the importance of improving PCPs knowledge and expertise on the needs of CF patients.