Rehabilitation pathway for Covid and post-Covid patients

A hospital rehabilitation service has been implemented in the Hospital of Cittadella, ULSS 6 Euganea - Health Trust (District of Padua) to offer hospitalized Covid and post-Covid patients a tailored rehabilitation pathway in the treatment of the different phases of the disease. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has determined the admission of a large number of acute patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU), Semi-Intensive Care Units (S-ICU) and non-critic hospital wards. Patients recovering from COVID-19 experience a wide range of impairments requiring the implementation of multidisciplinary rehabilitation care protocols;these include the assessment for anticipated impairments (especially for patients admitted to ICU, older patients, and patients showing indications of impairment);patients who had severe-critical disease usually require a period of inpatient rehabilitation. Between October 2020 and April 2021 at Cittadella Hospital 450 patients (ICU, S-ICU, non-critic hospital wards) were enrolled in the Rehabilitation pathway and followed daily by a team made by physiatrists, physiotherapists and speech therapists. Referral options (hospitalization, community based rehab or discharge with follow up), based on the conditions of the patients, were assessed. The reduction of surgery and orthopedics patients to rehabilitate and the decrease of outpatient rehab services during Covid emergency made it possible to convert Rehabilitation ward (20 beds) to Covid Rehabilitation;according to epidemiological scenarios, patients admitted to Rehabilitation ward were initially SARS-CoV-2 positive with mild, moderate and severe symptoms, then post-Covid SARS-CoV-2 negative discharged from Covid wards. The definition of a tailored rehabilitation pathway in the treatment of the different phases of Covid disease has represented an important professional and organizational challenge for the Hospital. Rehabilitation plays a pivotal role in the management of Covid and post-Covid patients. Key messages Patients recovering from COVID-19 experience a wide range of impairments requiring the implementation of multidisciplinary rehabilitation care protocols. The definition of a tailored rehabilitation pathway in the treatment of the different phases of Covid disease has represented an important professional and organizational challenge for the Hospital.