More care is available for those in the Fraser Health region still struggling with long-term COVID-19 symptoms.
A second post-COVID-19 recovery clinic in the authority is now in operation at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, where patients discharged from hospital and others referred by doctors are currently being seen.
The first clinic is located at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the latest clinic in Abbotsford opened at the start of this month.
“We are excited to be able to provide care beyond our inpatient units for patients infected with COVID-19,” said Dr. Euiseok Kim, medical director of the Abbotsford post-COVID-19 recovery clinic, in a statement.
“We are currently seeing patients discharged from hospital, as well as those referred by other physicians.”
Due to open next month, the redesigned Emergency Department at Abbotsford Regional Hospital will provide patients with better access to emergency care. https://t.co/pEpFzclvCU #Healthcare #Redevelopment pic.twitter.com/RZaaTY7WB7
— Fraser Health (@Fraserhealth) May 18, 2021
Fraser Health says 656 patients have been seen to date between the clinic at Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre in Surrey, St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver and Vancouver General Hospital.
The Surrey location's hours will also be extended next month to help with more patients.
“A large number of patients suffer medium to long-term symptoms and organ system dysfunction following COVID-19 infection, and this can be especially true in the sicker patients that require hospitalization,” said Dr. Peter Birks, Fraser Health lead for the COVID-19 Care Network, in the statement.
“Our goal is to provide accessible, standardized, multidisciplinary care for patients for up to 18 months after their symptoms develop.”
Clinics help patients receive specialized care and allow for health-care teams to further understand the long-term effects of the virus.
Fraser Health says clinical and research teams will be able to use the information to develop standardized strategies to treat and navigate clinical management for those that continue to live with the impacts of COVID-19.
They will focus on surveillance for post COVID-19 complications, patient education and self-care, symptom management, and appropriate referral to rehabilitation services and subspecialist services as needed.
