Hi Sonia,
I go to the "other" CF Clinic in Sacramento. I think it might be a smaller clinic than UC Davis. My clinic has about 100 patients ranging from infants to CFers in their 60's. The other clinic in Sacramento is run a little bit different than every other CF clinic I've heard about on different message boards. There are two doctors, Dr Bradley Chipps and Dr Myrza Perez. Chipps has been my doctor for over 20 years and I trust him with my life. In addition to turning Sutter Memorial Hospital into an accredited CF Center he is an extremely well known allergist. His office is called "Capital Allergy" and there are 3 sites. Depending on where you are in "sacramento" (the suberbs are quite spread out) it's convenient. He has one office downtown on J St, one in Roseville and one in Folsom. CF patients get priority with appointments, he will triple or quadruple book to get you in immediately (my brother has CF and usually walks in, he's a little disorganized like that)
The CF "team" runs the clinic at Sutter Memorial Hospital. I am fairly stable, so I see the team twice a year. It's approximately a 2-3 hour appointment with PFTs and a visit with the RN, RT, social worker and dietician. The doctors (Chipps and Dr P) do not go to clinic. They hold weekly meetings w/ the CF team to talk about the patients that were seen in "clinic" that week. All office visits (exacerbations or simply a routine visit) are conducted through the doctor's office (one of the 3 offices I mentioned) That is the part of the "clinic" that I think is different from every other clinic around the country. I make my appointments with Chipps or Dr P every week or month or 2 months, depending on how well I'm feeling. Then I see them, and only them in the doctor's office. The only time I see the CF team is at my clinic appointment.
I've never felt like I had to wait to see a doctor. When I want to see Chipps or Dr P, I can. It just depends on who is operating what office that day. My home is closest to the J St office, so that's the one I typically go to. I just love it there and wouldn't go anywhere else. The RT staff at the hospital is FANTASTIC! They always come ontime (I schedule my treatments when I go "in house") The nursing staff sometimes leaves a bit to be desired. They are supposed to gown, glove and mask everytime they enter the room, and some do, some don't. I need to be more vocal about insisiting on it. But personality wise, they are all super nice. Oh, and when I'm in the hospital I see Chipps or Dr P every morning. They alternate visits. (Dr P gets stuck with weekends now cause she's the newbie) LOL!
I know many folks who are happy with Standford. It is about a 2 hour drive from the city of Sacramento (further if you live in the suberbs)
Hope some of this helps. I highly recommend the Sutter Clinic in Sacramento. But you know what...you're the patient and you should shop around and interview for yourself. I will say, Dr Chipps is what I like to call, "a man of few words" but he's really good at the latest and greatest for CF. Dr Perez is much more personable and chatty. She's also excellent at what she does. She happens to be a peds CF expert, but does very well with adults, if I do say so myself.
Also, I've had home IVs many times without admission to the hospital. However, at my stage (and age) now, I almost prefer to go in for 10-14 days first and get some rest, then go home with IVs to finish up the treatment. I think Dr P is also pushing for this protocol, but ultimately, it's up to the patient. I've never felt forced to do anything I didn't want to do there.
Barbara, can I ask, do you use HTS? There was a rumor flying around the Sutter clinic in November that "UC Davis doesn't even use hypertonic saline!" gasp! Was that true?
Tara