PM&R's Response to COVID-19

Long COVID Education, Engagement, and Care Management

The Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) received supplemental funding to improve clinician education and engagement in the care of patients with Long COVID from the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Long COVID Research and Practice in partnership with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Academy is working with CMSS on this grant.

Guidance From the PASC Collaborative

In March 2021, the Academy launched a Multi-Disciplinary PASC Collaborative of experts to address Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC or Long COVID) and the 3 to 10 million Americans it is affecting. AAPM&R understood the need for focused, meaningful and ongoing clinical exchange between the medical community to assess and implement appropriate clinical practice for treating and following all long-term COVID issues, not just those issues requiring PM&R intervention. The goal of the Collaborative was to foster engagement and share experiences to propel the health system towards defining standards of care for persons experiencing Long COVID-19/PASC.

40+ Post COVID Clinics from across the country participated, with practitioners from multiple medical specialties and healthcare disciplines, as well as federal representation and patient organization representation.

Additional Resources

• PASC Clinician Note Templates: Access the templates, to be used as a guide only.
  
• Mental Health Guidance Statement: Access all of the tables, which include the treatment recommendation statements and pharmacologic agents used in depression, anxiety and PTSD.
• Neurological Symptoms Guidance Statement: Access all of the tables, which include the initial treatment options, red flags, care guidance and more.
• Pediatrics Guidance Statement: Access all of the tables, which include the methodology, recommendations, health equity considerations and more.
• Autonomic Dysfunction Guidance Statement: Access all of the tables, which include the methodology, recommendations, health equity considerations and more.
• Cardiovascular Complications Guidance Statement: Access all of the tables, which include the recommendations, health equity considerations/examples, rehabilitation approaches and more.  
• Fatigue Guidance Statement: Access all of the tables, which include the methodology, recommendations, health equity considerations and more.
• Breathing Discomfort Guidance Statement: Access all of the tables, which include the recommendations, health equity considerations/examples, rehabilitation approaches and more.  
• Cognitive Symptoms Guidance Statement: Access all of the tables (also available in PowerPoint slides), which include the recommendations, screening tools, strategies, health equity considerations and more.