AAPM&R is Calling for a Comprehensive National Plan to Address the Needs of Millions Suffering from Long COVID
According to two 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.
In 2021, 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.