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Living with Post-COVID Symptoms

Are you a B.C. 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 provincial virtual Post-COVID Recovery Clinic 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

Below you will find resources and tools to help you care for yourself. All materials have been prepared or reviewed by health-care professionals.

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

  • MyGuide Long COVID: By answering a few questions, you can create a customized guide tailored to your long COVID symptoms.  
  • Fact sheets and videos (see below): offered in multiple languages, these materials provide best-practice information about the most common long COVID symptoms so you can self-manage your recovery.

Need an overview first?  A good place to start is with these videos:

 
 
  • COVID-19 and the Heart (video). Explains chest pain, palpitations, dizziness and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) after COVID-19 infection - outlining what may cause these symptoms, and when to seek medical help.
 
 
 

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 patients across B.C. who meet clinical referral criteria through a province-wide virtual Post-COVID Recovery Clinic. The Clinic is managed by Providence Health Care.

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 (PDF). 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.

The virtual Post-COVID Recovery Clinic (based at Providence Health Care) is available to all patients across B.C. who meet clinical eligibility criteria. Once accepted into the Network, you will be assigned a nursing case manager to oversee your care and assess your recovery. As needed, they will connect you with physicians or other specialists.


Through the Clinic, you will have access to group education sessions, led by social workers, physiotherapists or occupational therapists, that will give you techniques and strategies to support your recovery from long COVID.

As a participant in our 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 (PDF).

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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