Outpatient services
Long-term and community services |
Outpatients with COVID-19 should be followed up by a rehabilitation team. Associations warned about the consequences of COVID-19 and recommended learning about outpatient rehabilitation interventions in COVID-19 patients and post-intensive care syndromes (PICS). Home-based rehabilitation programmes to avoid deconditioning, offering information about pulmonary rehabilitation at home for people with COVID-19 infection are recommended. Community rehabilitation teams must have sufficient resources and meet the additional needs of people recovering from COVID-19 when returning home. Neurophysiology studies for patients with COVID-19 should be performed following disinfection protocols for patients and hospital staff.
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Outpatient procedures for those patients with respiratory symptoms, older patients, immunocompromised or in contact with children or older people, those who have had recent trips outside their countries or have been in contact with a person who has travelled should be suspended. For patients who receive outpatient care or do not have an urgent medical condition, an immediate transition to virtual medical appointments through remote consultation or telerehabilitation was recommended. It is recommended that all non-essential neurophysiology outpatient studies be deferred and, in the event of an emergency, performed according to the risk/benefit assessment. First-time outpatient consultations and patients with complex pathologies should be prioritized. Hospitals must schedule and order agendas to limit patient encounters, have staff cleaning contact surfaces regularly, not admitting patients without prior appointment and not allowing companions in therapies,except for patients who are minors or with significant dependence Outpatient and home rehabilitation services should ensure the care of people in need of interventions to minimize functional deficits and prevent long-term disability. Home-based and community-based rehabilitation can be delivered through different strategies, such as telerehabilitation or direct care. Rehabilitation at home or in the community is recommended in priority cases, assessing the patient’s environment regarding the health conditions of the family members and establishing strict protocols for patients with or without COVID-19 infection. Virtually informed consent, patient safety, and consultation privacy are necessary for the telerehabilitation process through videos, telephone, email, and mobile messaging.
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