As the world opens up again, many of us are starting to imagine life after COVID-19. But for some survivors of the disease, life will not return to “normal” for months, or even years.
Many people who suffered severe illness went on to experience post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), a set of physical problems that include weakened muscles, issues of judgement or cognition and sometimes mental health problems. These patients have required intensive rehabilitation to learn how to walk and talk, and even swallow again.
Hoag had the privilege of treating the first known patient with COVID-19 in the state, and our Fudge Family Rehabilitation Center had the unique fortune to be able to grow to accommodate more COVID survivors from Hoag and the surrounding community, as well as our traditional neurological, orthopedic, and cardio-pulmonary patients.