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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 clinical care, education and research 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 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 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 Post-COVID Recovery Clinics and outlines the referral process.

The "Additional Care Info" tab takes you to 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: 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

Post-COVID-19 care and support are available to all patients across B.C. who meet clinical referral criteria. All patients are offered online group education sessions and smaller therapeutic sessions as required.

If a patient is not improving after completing the education program, they will be connected with a Post-COVID Recovery Clinic for additional care and support. 

 

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, a 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 participating in an education program. This includes online group education sessions led by physiotherapists, occupational therapists or social workers. After attending the group education sessions, you will have the opportunity to sign up for small, focused therapeutic sessions, if required.
 
At the end of the education program, you will be reassessed by the central triage team. If you haven’t seen improvement in your symptoms, you will be referred to a Post-COVID Recovery Clinic.
 
If you aren’t able to participate in English-language group education sessions, Central Triage may refer you directly to a Post-COVID Recovery Clinic.


 

Post-COVID Recovery Clinics are available to all patients across B.C. who meet clinical eligibility criteria, and virtual health options are available in some cases.


These clinics are interdisciplinary, integrated with primary care providers, and based on a model of supportive care co-designed by clinicians and people with lived experience of COVID-19. 


These clinics are led by registered nurses and allied health professionals. They do not support investigations of your symptoms. A primary care provider (physician or nurse practitioner) must do this before referring you to the Network. 


Your first clinic appointment will include a consultation with a general internal medicine physician. Follow up appointments will be with post-COVID case managers (registered nurses) and the allied health team.


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.

 
Virtual health visits are also available.
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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SOURCE: Living with Post-COVID Symptoms ( )
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