This page describes the usual methodology that Child Health International deploys to enhance the healthcare of children affected by cystic fibrosis (CF) within a particular country. However, we work collaboratively with host institutes and therefore processes may vary and evolve depending on a country’s particular needs.
We are also developing our use of virtual conferencing and electronic communications. Whilst this will likely supplement our current approach, allowing us to reach more people, the principles listed below will remain.
To find out more, or to discuss how your organisation can aid, or benefit from, CHI’s involvement, email our team at info@childhealthinternational.org.
Step 1: Request for help and preliminary questionnaire
Requests for assistance can be made by any group or individual, but typically this has been the head of a CF clinical team or parents’ association.
After initial contact is made, a member of the CHI team will help potential partners complete an introductory questionnaire. This will help us assess the current state of healthcare and will include collecting information on the size of the CF community, common care practices, challenges and contact details for local medical specialists or support groups relevant to CHI’s involvement.
This usually results in an invitation to arrange a fact-finding visit.
Step 2: An initial visit
The first visit usually involves the lead of a UK CF clinical team, a specialist physiotherapist or dietitian and a CHI facilitator. They will meet senior medical staff and representatives of parents’ association if applicable. They typically observe in-patient and out-patient clinics and may review some difficult cases at the request of the host organization. They may also give a lecture or demonstration to parents, patients and/or staff.
Towards the end of the visit, the clinical team will review their observations with the hosts and agree a program of future support.
Each country will present its own opportunities for care improvement and this initial visit will focus on working collaboratively with all partners to identify these.
Step 3: Visits by medical teams
The key strengths of CHI’s approach is that it allows overseas medical staff to observe first-hand the multidisciplinary teams working within UK specialist centres, and to receive hands-on practical advice and support within their own clinics. The frequency and nature of these ongoing visits varies greatly depending on identified needs and opportunities.
Visit to UK by overseas team
The CHI project manager will help develop a programme of activities to ensure maximum benefit for those involved, arranging all flights, travel and accommodation for the visiting team. The project needs determine the content of the programme, which may include attending meetings, work shadowing or training in specialist areas or techniques. Early visits often give a general overview of CF case management, whilst later ones may focus on a specific activity or skill, such as lung clearance exercises, growth monitoring or diet.
Visit by UK medical team
Project teams are usually led by an experienced CF Consultant, and will include one or more of a physiotherapist, dietician and/or specialist nurse (depending on the identified needs) from one of the UK’s specialist CF centres, plus a facilitator provided by CHI. Where necessary, a competent medical interpreter may also be involved. The program may be similar to the initial visit described above or may focus on a specific skill development.
Each visit will aim to develop and strengthen key relationships between relevant parties, with time set aside to refine and update project objectives and to define next steps where appropriate.
All the CF specialists CHI works with give their time and expertise for free, with travel expenses covered by either CHI or external funding where applicable. For example, we’ve previously recieved support from a host country pharmaceutical company.
Step 4: Ongoing partnership
Project plans are continually assessed and developed to ensure maximum benefit for the CF community. Further visits to and from the host country may involve individuals or whole teams, but will maintain a focus on developing the multi-disciplinary approach that’s fundamental to modern CF case management.
Once key relationships are established, teams can move to a more remote method of ongoing support, through email exchange or regular online meetings, requiring progressively less input from CHI. We aim to continue support for project teams as long as everyone agrees this is necessary, whilst ensuring that we establish partnerships that can ultimately continue independently.
Further examples of CHI activities can be found on individual project pages, or by emailing the team at info@childhealthinternational.org.
