ABSTRACT
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM/QUESTION: Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV2 (PASC) became an new disease entity during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and in the midst of an evolving pandemic with social distancing and space contstraints, how could we create a platform to help evaluate and treat an emerging disease? DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM/INTERVENTION: In October 2020, we created a Post-Covid Recovery Clinic that was a "hub and spoke" model. Primary Care Providers (n=4) served as the "hub" and conducted an initial appointment and the "spokes" were the speciality clinics. Each spoke created a referral algorithm with diagnostic testing requests. Eligible patients were those that did not have a PCP in our clinic. A PCP conducted an initial video visit, which accomodated for patient geographical constraints and space restrictions in our clinic. Initial appointments were 40 minutes in duration but were rapidly found to be inadequate. To address this challenge, we developed a detailed note template for documentation and pre-visit electronic health record questionnaires to facilitate elicitation of current symptoms, medications and medical history. To evaluate the clinic, a 21-question post-visit patient survey was emailed or administered by phone. The survey included questions about demographics and patient satisfaction (Likert scale, strongly disagree to strongly agree). All responses were anonymous and confidential. MEASURES OF SUCCESS: The metrics of success for the program were greater than 50% of patients 'agreeing' (defined as strongly agree and agree) with the following statements: 1) Without our clinic they would not have been able to seek care for their PASC symptoms 2) Telemedicine made it easier for them to be seen for their symptoms 3) They benefitted from seeking care from this clinic FINDINGS TO DATE: The survey was completed by 74 patients, who were predominantly women of non-Hispanic White ethnicity with a college education;age ranged from 16 to 79 and patients resided in 59 different Chicagoland zip codes. Overall, Likert results did not differ by gender, race, education, or employment status. The majority of respondents (74%) agreed that virtual visits made it easier to be seen for their PASC symptoms and that they benefitted from seeking care from the clinic. Slight under half of respondents (42%) agreed that without this clinic, they would not have received care for PASC with 37% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing with the statement. A majority respondents (86%) agreed that pre-visit questionnaires were not difficult to complete with a majority (73% and 84%) agreeing that telehealth is an acceptable way to receive healthcare services and that technology is not difficult for them to use. KEY LESSONS FOR DISSEMINATION: 1) A virtual clinic is an acceptable way of providing care for an emergent disease process and facilitates patients with geographical or time constraints to be seen by a specialized clinic. 2) Pre-visit questionnaires sent electronically were not burdensome to patients and helped streamline clinic visits, however there may be selection bias in our patient population.