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Long COVID/PASC

Advocacy

AAPM&R is Calling for a Comprehensive National Plan to Address the Needs of Millions Suffering from Long COVID

According to two recent publications from the Journal of the American Medical Association, ten to thirty percent of individuals who had COVID-19 reported at least one persistent symptom up to six months after the virus left their bodies. That means 3 to 10 million Americans are experiencing symptoms of Long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), which are varied and ongoing, including neurological challenges, cognitive problems such as brain fog, shortness of breath, fatigue, pain, and mobility issues.

AAPM&R called on President Joe Biden and Congress to gear up for the next coronavirus crisis by preparing and implementing a comprehensive national plan focused on meeting the needs of millions of individuals suffering from the long-term symptoms of COVID-19, and help them regain quality of life and return to being active members of their communities. The plan must include a commitment to three major components:

  • Resources to build necessary infrastructure to meet this crisis
  • Equitable access to care for patients
  • Research to advance medical understanding of Long COVID

PM&R physicians are uniquely qualified to help guide the multidisciplinary effort needed to develop a plan for this crisis. As a specialty, physiatrists are investigators, team leaders and problem solvers. PM&R physicians see the whole patient AND the whole picture of the rehabilitation ecosystem. Physiatrists are exactly what this crisis needs. Learn more about our Multidisciplinary PASC Collaborative, launched in March 2021, which is working on quality improvement initiatives.

AAPM&R Advocacy, Healthcare Collaborations and Partnerships, and Customized Resources to Support PM&R During This Crisis

AAPM&R is working to ensure PM&R is part of the national conversation about healthcare amidst COVID-19 and advocating for the federal support, legislation, regulation relief and resources that physiatrists need now. One way we are doing this is through our partnerships and collaborations with other specialty societies. The Academy continuously works to represent PM&R through these collaborations, and it is through these partnerships that we are able to discuss and share a variety of resources with you that you critically need.

Stay Up-to-Date

How AAPM&R Is Planning in Light of COVID-19—Your Safety is Our Utmost Concern

Mar 11, 2020

AAPM&R understands that you may have questions regarding upcoming courses in light of recent events. We want attendees to feel confident in attending and traveling to the Academy's educational courses. We also want to respect our physicians’ need to be healthy and available for their own patients and communities.

The following courses have been rescheduled and will now be offered as preconference courses at the 2020 Annual Assembly on November 10-11, 2020:

The Step One: Ultrasound Clinical Applications of the Extremities Course scheduled for June 5-6, 2020 has been cancelled. All registrants were referred to the 2020 Annual Assembly preconference course on November 10-11, 2020 in San Diego, CA.  

The Leadership Institute Business and Administration Program Courses (in partnership with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University), scheduled for May 15-17 and July 24-26, 2020, will be rescheduled for 2021—new dates to follow.

The Next Step Interventional Ultrasound: Hands-On PM&R Applications Course scheduled for August 28-29, 2020 will go on as planned. Registration for this course will open soon. We will continue to monitor events and update as needed.

The Navigating Early-Career Decisions for Success in Physiatry Practice Course to be hosted by New York University Langone on April 3-4, 2020 was cancelled due to travel restrictions by NYU.

All course registrants were contacted directly with next steps, as well as information about our temporary refund policy:

Now through December 31, 2020, AAPM&R will give a full refund to any individual who registered for a 2020 live course (including the Annual Assembly), but is unable to attend for any reason. A full refund will be issued to any registrant upon request, without any fees or penalties, no matter when they registered for the course. When possible, cancellations with advanced notice prior to the event would be appreciated to aid the Academy in planning accordingly.

Please note: For registrants who have begun a STEP Program, refunds may not be issued for live or online components already completed or in progress. STEP program registrants with questions about refunds may contact education@aapmr.org.

With the accelerating outbreak and impact of COVID-19, AAPM&R has suspended all travel for Academy business for both Academy volunteers (faculty and committee members) and staff through May 31, 2020. Committee meetings scheduled through June 30 will be held virtually. As this is an evolving situation, please check back for updates. Details on plans for those virtual meetings will be shared with the committee members. The safety of our members and staff is our utmost concern.

If circumstances should change, we will notify members as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact us at (847) 737-6000.

Resources for You

Guided by physiatrist volunteer leaders, the Academy has launched the Physiatrist Member Support and Resource Center, an informational web page about COVID-19 that has curated content intended to support you as a physiatrist, including information for you as a provider, for the public, as well as updates onAAPM&R event planning. The health, safety, and well-being of the AAPM&R community is our highest priority.

The Academy is continuing to monitor the situation and will update this news story regularly.

Last updated April 1, 2020.