Course Description:

COVID-19 presents a challenge in the post-acute phase of rehabilitation, due to the large numbers of individuals with new cardiovascular and pulmonary (CVP) and critical-illness-related impairments in a system not prepared to accept them. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 has been unprecedented and unpredictable in many ways—from its infectious nature to the surprising impairments it causes. This three-part course series will provide: (1) an overview of COVID-19 pathophysiology, diagnostics, and medical management, along with comparisons of COVID-19 to post-intensive-care syndrome (PICS); (2) considerations for examination and outcomes assessment; and (3) presentation of representative post-acute COVID-19 patient cases across disease severity, with application of interventions. Evidence from other countries will be presented, but due to the lack of published evidence, presenters will extrapolate best practices from research and practice principles with existing conditions, integrated with current case anecdotes.