A Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) Clinic in Rural New England

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Management
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Post-acute COVID syndrome (PACS) presents unique challenges, particularly in rural areas.
• Understanding the demand and utilization of specialized clinics is vital for effective healthcare delivery.
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted disparities in healthcare access, especially for rural populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the demand and utilization patterns of a rural post-acute COVID syndrome clinic.
• To characterize patients referred to the clinic and the specialty services they accessed.
• To evaluate the role of Telehealth in providing care for rural PACS patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of electronic health records for referrals between April 2021 and April 2022.
• Identification of patient demographics, acute illness characteristics, and pre-existing conditions.
• Tracking of referrals generated to various specialty services.

Main Results:

• 363 out of 747 referrals (48.6%) were seen, with 89.6% utilizing Telehealth.
• The majority of patients (63.1%) were from rural communities, with a mean age of 49.
• Common referrals included occupational therapy (27.3%), physical therapy (24.8%), psychiatry (19.8%), and neurology (17%).
• Nearly half of patients (49%) had pre-existing mental health diagnoses.

Conclusions:

• Telehealth significantly enhanced access to care for rural patients with post-acute COVID syndrome.
• Specialty care referrals indicate a complex interplay of physical, occupational, and mental health needs.
• Further research is essential to develop targeted interventions for rural PACS recovery.