The Brigham and Women’s Hospital COVID Recovery Center provides care for patients who’ve recovered from COVID-19 infection but still have lasting symptoms or complications from COVID treatment. The center is a central place to evaluate post-COVID symptoms and coordinate care.
“A new illness mandates a new approach,” said Bruce Levy, MD, chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. “For patients who may be going to multiple specialty clinics, finding those locations, and navigating that system is not easy. Our goal is to ensure COVID ‘long-hauler’ patients get the best, most efficient care possible.”
The Brigham has been a national leader in creating clinical guidelines for patients with COVID-19 and pioneering COVID-19 research to improve care. Patients may choose to take part in our COVID-19 research studies to help inform future patient care. This is voluntary and not required.
Caring for COVID “long-hauler” patients
Patients may have a spectrum of symptoms that require evaluation from a variety of specialists. Each patient first has a comprehensive evaluation. A patient navigator then arranges additional imaging, testing and/or referrals to medical, surgical, neurologic and psychiatric specialists as needed. This allows for efficient and timely coordination of care. The team partners with primary care providers to ensure patients receive follow-up care tailored to their needs.
“It’s not enough to just have the center — we have to think about improving awareness, engaging patients in a thoughtful way, considering transportation costs, the prospect of multiple visits and so on. We have to first identify these barriers, then develop processes to eliminate them.”
Ann-Marcia Tukpah, MD, MPH, clinical fellow in Pulmonology
Health equity and access to care
The COVID Recovery Center team is committed to closing gaps in health disparities. They partner with community organizations to ensure people from all communities have access to care.
“The shared vision we all had was to ensure we were serving the patients who were acutely affected by this pandemic,” said Ann-Marcia Tukpah, MD, MPH, a clinical fellow in pulmonology who helped draft the proposal for the center last year.
“We want to make sure that every element of how care is provided in the center confronts these inequities. It’s not enough to just have the center — we have to think about improving awareness, engaging patients in a thoughtful way, considering transportation costs, the prospect of multiple visits and so on. We have to first identify these barriers, then develop processes to eliminate them.”
Who is eligible for evaluation at the COVID Recovery Center?
Patients must have a previous documented positive COVID PCR test or positive serology. You don’t need to be an existing Brigham patient to receive care.
Patients may have one or more long-term effects, including:
- Brain fog
- Cough or shortness of breath
- Exertional fatigue
- Fibrosis of the lungs
- Headaches
- Heart or blood vessel damage
- Loss of taste or smell, or other related changes in these senses
- Mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Complications related to COVID treatment, including airway complications that may require specialized medical or surgical evaluation and therapies.
Which specialists may be involved in my evaluation and care?
COVID-19 may affect multiple organ systems. Our multidisciplinary team consists of experts working together from various specialties. Your team may include health care providers from:
- Infectious disease
- Cardiology (heart and vascular)
- Pulmonology and Thoracic surgery (lung)
- Nephrology (kidney)
- Neurology (brain and nervous system)
- Otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat)
- Psychiatry or Social work (mental health)
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (physiatry)
- Outpatient Rehabilitation Services (physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech)
Where is the COVID Recovery Center located?
The COVID Recovery Center is housed within The Lung Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Patients may enter the hospital at the 45 Francis Street entrance. Please let us know if you have any concerns about making the appointment or getting to the clinic. We can help you gain access to care, including help with transportation, scheduling, or financial challenges. Patients may have options for Virtual Visits.
How can I make an appointment?
Please contact the COVID Recovery Center at 617-525-3665.
