UCI Health turns to combatting Long Hauler Syndrome

Helps Patients With LongTerm COVID Symptoms

UCI Health recently unveiled an outpatient program for post-COVID-19 patients dealing with long-term symptoms and complications of the virus.

Long Hauler Syndrome includes symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, joint pain, chest pain, anxiety and depression, among others.

It impacts an estimated 10% to 30% of COVID patients after initial illness, includ- ing about one-third of patients that experi- enced no symptoms when initially infected, according to UCI Health.

The new program is offered via outpatient clinics in Tustin and Costa Mesa. While it has a primary care orientation, it includes a comprehensive initial evaluation by an internal medicine physician and specialty referrals as needed.

To be eligible, participants must be 18 years old or older, have had a confirmed COVID diagnoses and experienced symptoms for more than four weeks.

“UCI Health has been a leader in providing treatment for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and COVID-related conditions since the start of the pandemic,” said Alpesh Amin, chair of the UCI Health Department of Medicine. “The expertise we bring to managing the long-term effects of this terrible disease will help Orange County and our entire community recover.”

COVID case rates and hospitalizations have dropped in recent weeks, though UCI Health still has a mobile hospital set up outside of its medical center in Orange and continues to monitor the situation.

“The combination of vaccines, social distancing, community education and remaining vigilant is working, but we need to maintain these habits,” Amin added.

UCI Health is a top five vaccine administrator in Orange County with more than 94,000 shots administered to date, according to data from the county.