They’re nicknamed “long-haulers” – patients who are still struggling with health problems weeks or months after they have seemingly recovered from COVID-19. Some of their issues are mild while others can be severe. In either case, these patients require the care of an experienced team of lung specialists to help them recover and improve their quality of life.
“There is still a lot we don’t know about COVID-19, including why some patients seem to have these recurring health problems and other don’t,” says Gerard J. Criner, MD, FACP, FACCP, Chair of the Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery and Director of the Temple Lung Center. “Ongoing symptoms can be painful and unpredictable, including shortness of breath, chronic cough, fatigue, or worsening of existing lung conditions such as COPD.”
To help long-haulers in their recovery, Temple Health has opened a Post-COVID Recovery Clinic. Managed by the nationally respected Temple Lung Center, this clinic brings together leading specialists in lung disease to address the full breadth of COVID-19 symptoms and needs, using the most up-to-date treatments available.
“We are committed to caring for these patients for as long as they need us,” Dr. Criner says. “We’ll track their progress to identify and treat any new issues that may emerge. We can also refer patients to other Temple specialists for additional services they may need.”
Since the outset of the pandemic, Temple has treated some of the sickest patients with COVID-19 in the Philadelphia region. The Temple Lung Center offers the latest clinical trials, including cooperative research on COVID-19’s long-term effects. And Temple is a national leader in clinical research on non-cancer lung diseases, often providing access to novel therapies and treatments not yet available at other centers.
Patients who are dealing with ongoing COVID-19 symptoms can be seen at one of Temple’s 5 Post-COVID Recovery Clinic locations.
Call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) or request an appointment today.