CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Clinic on Monday became the second healthcare system in northeastern Ohio to announce a clinic to help patients with persistent COVID-19 symptoms that lasted long after the first sign of infection.
The reCOVer clinic connects patients with symptoms that last more than four weeks with specialists from 18 different health areas and other resources, the clinic said in a press release. These patients, commonly called “long haulers”, have a diagnosis known as long COVID or post-acute sequel to COVID-19 (PASC).
MetroHealth has opened a similar post-COVID clinic to help patients with persistent symptoms.
At the beginning of the pandemic, specialist doctors were unaware that symptoms could persist in some patients with COVID-19. But a study published in the medical journal The Lancet found that more than three-quarters of patients with coronaviruses treated at a Chinese hospital had persistent symptoms six months later.
Experts are still working on other studies to determine how many COVID-19 patients have symptoms that do not resolve, said Dr. Kristin Englund, an infectious disease specialist who heads the ReCOVer clinic.
“However, we know that patients with persistent symptoms of COVID-19 are not necessarily those who were initially hospitalized with severe cases,” said Englund in the press release. “Many patients had a very mild infection, but the symptoms persisted for more than four weeks or potentially worsened over time.”
“Long-haulers” reported a number of symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath or cough. Health experts have found that they can also develop neurological symptoms, such as mental confusion, depression and insomnia.
The reCOVer clinic involves specialists in cardiology; lung care; dermatology; care for ears, nose and throat; and neurocognition, the clinic said.
All patients will undergo a series of assessments and examinations, starting with a detailed health history and a questionnaire. They can also do cardiac, lung and physical therapy tests; bloodtests; and neurocognitive and behavioral health screening. The process could take several weeks to complete, the press release says.
The patient will meet with suppliers at the ReCOVer clinic to discuss the results and develop an individual health plan for them, says the press release.
“This is a complex condition and one that we are increasingly understanding about every day,” said Dr. William Lago, a family medicine doctor who is involved in the development of the RECOVER clinic. “By taking the time to conduct multidisciplinary and comprehensive assessments, we believe that we can be the best partner with our patients to develop treatment plans and put them on the path to well-being.”
The reCOVer clinic is located at the Cleveland Clinic’s Independence Family Health Center, but some patient care will take place via telehealth. It is currently serving patients by referral, but the Clinic plans to expand it to any patient with long COVID at some point in the future.