Critical Illness & COVID-19 Survivorship
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Critical Illness & COVID-19 Recovery
As part of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's (BIDMC) Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, our Critical Illness and COVID-19 Survivorship Programs are distinct but complimentary programs designed to help survivors of critical illness (regardless of cause) and patients experiencing symptoms of Long COVID. We help patients navigate ongoing symptoms, regain function, and work toward living their best lives.
We have developed an integrated team of specialists so that patient care is convenient, coordinated, and focused on the priorities of our patients and families. Our team includes specialists with expertise in lung diseases and critical illness (pulmonary and critical care medicine), brain and nerve diseases (neurologists), mental health (psychiatrist), aging and frailty (geriatricians), physical and occupational therapy, medications (pharmacists), and social work.
Recovery After Critical Illness
Patients who have been in the intensive care unit face a unique set of challenges in their recovery. The group of impairments after an ICU stay has been termed Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), and includes difficulty with thinking and memory, mental health, and physical abilities. Our team are experts in treating PICS and our program is designed to help patients recover from their critical illness to the fullest extent possible.
Recovery After COVID-19
Following COVID-19, patients may experience new and persistent troubling symptoms. These symptoms may include discomfort when breathing, profound fatigue, muscle weakness, fast heart rate, dizziness, problems with thinking and memory, continued loss of or changes in smell and taste, painful neuropathy, chest pain, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress.
Additionally, there are many other symptoms that are now being recognized after COVID-19 infection, which we are learning about every day from our patients, our international collaborators, and the latest research.
More About Critical Illness & COVID-19 Survivorship
What does our initial visit include?
- Assessment of ongoing symptoms after illness
- Standardized questions for thinking and memory, mental health, and physical abilities
- Standardized questions for breathing discomfort or shortness of breath
- Pulmonary function screening
- In depth discussion of the existing knowledge based on latest research about post-COVID or post-ICU
- Establish treatment plan to include other members of team, based on our assessment and ongoing symptoms
- Provide additional educational resources and programs to supplement care, such as breathing exercises and coaching, approaches to fatigue, loss of smell, sleeplessness, and other common symptoms
- Our nurse coordinator will initially meet with most patients by telephone to have a comprehensive discussion of symptoms and connect patients with expert clinicians on our team
At the end of this initial visit, we will arrange for additional meetings with experts within our team depending on each patient’s individual needs and goals.
When should I be seen, or refer my patient to be seen, in this clinic?
Long COVID Program: We welcome patients with COVID-19 of any severity who continue to have persistent symptoms or impairments three or more months after their initial illness.
Critical Illness Survivorship Clinic: For ICU survivors, we routinely schedule patients leaving the BIDMC ICU to be seen in our clinic. Those who were in the ICU for at least three days and required mechanical ventilation or other advanced ICU supports are most likely to benefit, and we generally recommend being seen from two weeks to three months after returning home. We welcome those who were admitted to non-BIDMC ICUs as well as those admitted at BIDMC.
What should I expect in an initial visit with the Critical Illness Survivorship Clinic?
Your initial visit with our care team will include:
- Debriefing of ICU stay
- Assessment of ongoing symptoms after illness
- Standardized questions for thinking and memory, mental health, and physical abilities
- Education about Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS)
- Review of hospital follow up plan and identification of gaps in care
- Individualized plan to address biggest barriers to long-term recovery
- Specialist referrals as needed
What is the current Long COVID intake process?
We currently have a waitlist for an initial evaluation. To be added to the waitlist, please call 617-667-5864. We are working through our waitlist as quickly as possible, and you will receive an intake email via the MyBILH Chart patient portal.
If you are not already a patient at BIDMC, please call 617-754-8240 to complete the registration process. An active account on MyBILH Chart, our patient portal, is required.
Intake will also entail:
- Standardized questionnaire to identify specific patient needs
- Establishment of treatment plan to include other members of team, based on our assessment and ongoing symptoms
- Provision of additional educational resources and programs to supplement care, such as breathing exercises and coaching, approaches to fatigue, loss of smell, sleeplessness, and other common symptoms
- Assessment by our nurse coordinator, who will connect patients with expert clinicians on our team as needed.
Patients who are recovering from a critical illness will begin with a one-hour consultation—either in person or via video—with a critical care physician.
Patients experiencing symptoms of Long COVID will first be contacted by our program nurse through MyBILH Chart for initial assessment and guidance.
For clinical referrals and scheduling, please call 617-667-5864. For the Critical Illness Survivorship Clinic, please request a Post-ICU appointment with Dr. Katherine Berg. Intake for the Long COVID program will be directed to the program nurse.
If you have not been seen as a patient at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the past, please call 617-754-8240 first to be registered as a patient.
