In response to an emerging group known as COVID-19 “long-haulers,” Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health has established a multidisciplinary recovery and rehabilitation program to evaluate and treat lasting issues caused by the coronavirus. The program includes specialists from across the health system including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and neuropsychology.
Long-term symptoms can include weakness and fatigue, pain, emotional issues, cognitive difficulties, and psychological issues including PTSD, insomnia, anxiety and depression. Rehabilitation therapies can help long-haulers deal with some of these conditions and return to more normal health.
The post-COVID rehabilitation therapy program is overseen by Tony Ton-That, MD, FABPMR, physiatrist and medical director of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department at Lancaster General Health.
“Unfortunately more than 10 percent of patients continue to suffer from long-term symptoms of COVID-19 within 6 months or more after infection,” Ton-That said. “Our COVID recovery program continues to identify this rapidly growing population and will provide multidisciplinary rehabilitation care so patients can once again function as active members of their communities.”
The goal is to evaluate each patient individually and provide a customized care plan. Anyone having a difficult time recovering from COVID-19 may submit a form for a self-referral or contact their primary care provider about COVID-19 rehabilitation treatments.