Oakville Trafalgar hospital site of new Halton COVID-19 long-haulers clinic

Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital is home to a new clinic to treat COVID-19 long-haulers.

Launched by Halton Healthcare, the new Post COVID-19 Syndrome Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic is based on a program developed by the Alberta Health Services task force.

Patients who have recovered from the virus but continue to suffer from ongoing symptoms will take part in a multidisciplinary intervention framework based on a personalized assessment and treatment.

“Recent international data shows approximately 10 per cent of COVID-19 patients experience debilitating symptoms, which may last for many months,” said Dr. Greg Thomson, Medical Director Rehab, Geriatrics, Transitions & Integrated Care at Halton Healthcare.

“These chronic symptoms fall under the definition of Post COVID-19 Syndrome. We felt that there was an urgent need for the identification and treatment of these individuals to reduce the risk of permanent deficit.”

Patient treatment will include exercise training, education and behaviour modification, with the program designed to improve the physical, cognitive, psychological and social symptoms.

To enroll in the program, patients must meet a specific criteria. They must be 18 and older, have had a COVID-19 diagnosis within the past year, be in the recovery phase of their illness and be able to tolerate treatment.

“The Step-Up Neuro Rehabilitation program located in the OTMH Outpatient Rehabilitation Department provides the right interdisciplinary approach for Post-COVID Recovery and has been expanded to include the Post COVID-19 Syndrome Clinic,” said Jody Strik, Director Transitions, Integrated Care & Rehab Clinics.

“Patients will benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to care that utilizes Neuro Rehabilitation trained Physiotherapists (PT), Occupational Therapists (OT) and Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP).”

A referral from a physician is required to be enrolled in the program.

“We hope this clinic will make a difference in the lives of people who have been impacted by COVID-19,” she added.

A physician’s referral is required to be enrolled in the program. For more information, visit https://www.haltonhealthcare.on.ca.