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Living with Post-COVID Symptoms

Are you a BC resident struggling with post-COVID symptoms and looking for help?

The Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network offers research, education and care, to support you in your recovery.

"Post COVID" is an umbrella term for any symptoms that remain after you are initially sick with COVID-19. 


Post-COVID conditions (commonly called “long COVID”) occur in people with a history of probable or confirmed COVID-19 infection who are experiencing symptoms for at least three (3) months from their initial illness that cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis or other causes.


Symptoms generally have an impact on everyday functioning.


(Videos courtesy of  Long COVID Physio)
 

Below, you will find three tabs.

Under the "Self-Care Info" tab, you will find fact sheets and videos about many common long-COVID symptoms to help you care for yourself. These materials have been prepared by health-care professionals.

The "Clinical Care" tab describes the services offered at the virtual Post-COVID Recovery Clinics and outlines the referral process.

The "Additional Care Info" tab includes various tools, worksheets, and information to help you navigate your life post-COVID, including returning to work, financial management and managing your energy.

For a visual of what your recovery journey might look like, see our Patient Recovery Pathway infographic (PDF)

Self-care info

There is a lot of information on this page. We encourage you to go slow, review the information at your own pace and take lots of breaks from the screen.

A good place to start is with these videos:

Please find resource sheets and videos under each symptom, listed alphabetically.

 
 
 
 
 

Using Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network resources & guidelines

Purpose of resources

Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network resources and guidelines are designed to support equitable, best practice care for people living with long COVID. The materials can be divided into two main categories: 
  • Resources to support people living with long COVID in their recovery. 
  • Resources and guidelines to support health care providers caring for people living with long COVID.
Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network clinical staff developed and reviewed the guidelines and resources based on the best information available at the time of publication. Refer to www.phsa.ca/postCOVID for the most recent versions.

Restrictions on guideline use

Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network guidelines and resources can be downloaded for personal, clinical, non-commercial use only. No reproduction by or for commercial organizations, or for commercial purposes, is allowed without the permission of the Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network. To request permission, e-mail post-COVID-ICCN@phsa.ca.
 
When referencing one of the Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network’s guidelines or resources, use the following format: Name of guideline/resource, year. Available from: www.phsa.ca/postCOVID.

Clinical care

The Post-COVID-19  Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network’s model of care for people living with post-COVID symptoms takes an education-first approach. Patients have access to group education sessions and rehabilitation support. The Network also offers online resources to help those affected to support their recovery and supports for primary care providers.

As of April 1, 2023, the network offers care and support to all patients across B.C. through a province-wide virtual Post-COVID Recovery Clinic who meet clinical referral criteria. 


Your primary care provider (e.g. family doctor or nurse practitioner) can refer you to the Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Care Network (the Network) by completing the referral form. To be referred, you must be experiencing symptoms that limit your daily activities and that have been affecting you for at least three (3) months following your presumed or confirmed COVID-19 illness.


Before referring you, your primary care provider must have investigated your symptoms to rule out any other potential causes. The Network does not provide investigations and diagnostics.


Once your referral is received, a triage nurse will contact you and review your case to determine the appropriate level of resources and services required to support your recovery. 

Once accepted into the Network, you will begin your recovery by being assessed by a specialist nurse, then based on symptoms, receive immediate access to the most appropriate self-management supports and group learning opportunities based on your individual needs and what makes sense for you. Where assessment identifies need for a physician consultation as part of your journey, provincial clinic staff will facilitate this, whether it be for more general medicine needs or sub-specialist needs.


The virtual Post-COVID Recovery Clinic is available to all patients across B.C. who meet clinical eligibility criteria.


Evolving the model of care to meet patient needs


On April 1, 2023, the Post-COVID Recovery Clinics will consolidate to a province-wide virtual clinic serving people throughout B.C.  The program will continue to care for patients who will access these services virtually and – while the number of new patients with long-COVID symptoms is decreasing – these services and resources will continue into the future.  

In addition, new funding is now available to further invest in these services and supports and education for clinical teams. 


For current patients:

  • We are connecting by telephone with all active patients to ensure the transition is seamless for you. 

  • After speaking by phone, we will send a letter outlining details of your transition and note any updates we discussed about your recovery or readiness for discharge from the program.

  • If you have a primary care provider, they will also receive a letter to ensure everyone involved in your care is kept informed. They are a key support in your general health needs, and we will ensure they can reach us if your long COVID symptoms re-develop or worsen.

  • If you do not have a regular primary care provider, your ongoing long COVID care will continue to be facilitated by our team with you. 

  • You will remain a Post-COVID Recovery Clinic patient until it is mutually determined you are ready for discharge from the program.

  • The consolidated provincial virtual clinic will continue to focus on supporting symptom management and functional improvement for all:

    • Nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and social workers have played a very significant role in these services; these professions will all continue supporting patients in their recovery.

    • Supporting recovery will continue to occur with a variety of tools, including education sessions to help with symptom management and, for some, depending on where they are in recovering,  group therapy and individual appointments related to specific needs. 

  • New supports and tools will continue to be developed with patient input to meet your needs and based on new science as it emerges.  

New patients or patients who have been referred but not yet seen:

  • Consistent with past practice, new patients will continue to be welcomed through referral.
  • Patients will continue to be assessed by a specialist nurse, then based on symptoms, receive immediate access to the most appropriate self-management supports and group learning opportunities based on individual needs and what makes sense for each. 

As has been the case, where assessment identifies need for a physician consultation as part of your journey, provincial clinic staff will facilitate this, whether it be for more general medicine needs or sub-specialist needs.


As a participant in a Post-COVID Recovery Clinic, you will be presented with opportunities to get involved in research. If you are interested, more information can be found on our PC-ICCN Research page.

Learn how we're taking care of your Personal Health Information with our Notice of Collection.



Additional care info

Please find various tools, worksheets, and information to help you navigate your life post-COVID and support your recovery.

These resources are designed to help you identify triggers or stressors that may be making your symptoms worse. They can help you learn how to effectively pace yourself during your recovery from COVID-19. 

  • Returning to Work (Video) Discusses returning to work after an illness. This module reviews how to assess if you are ready, steps to take, and explores tips for a successful and sustained return to work plan.
  • Disability Alliance BC  (Website) 1 to 1 assistance for disability benefits information


  • Advance Care and Financial Planning: Making important medical decisions, navigating financial and legal issues are common tasks when dealing with a serious health issue or unanticipated event and are a source of great stress for many people.  This module discusses advance care and financial planning and reviews tools and steps to consider when dealing with this very important topic. 
 
Using Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network resources & guidelines

Purpose of resources

Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network resources and guidelines are designed to support equitable, best practice care for people living with long COVID. The materials can be divided into two main categories: 
  • Resources to support people living with long COVID in their recovery. 
  • Resources and guidelines to support health care providers caring for people living with long COVID.
Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network clinical staff developed and reviewed the guidelines and resources based on the best information available at the time of publication. Refer to www.phsa.ca/postCOVID for the most recent versions.

Restrictions on guideline use

Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network guidelines and resources can be downloaded for personal, clinical, non-commercial use only. No reproduction by or for commercial organizations, or for commercial purposes, is allowed without the permission of the Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network. To request permission, e-mail post-COVID-ICCN@phsa.ca.
 
When referencing one of Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network’s guidelines or resources, use the following format: Name of guideline/resource, year. Available from: www.phsa.ca/postCOVID.
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