The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has ended, but with ten to twenty percent of those affected suffering from some form of Post-COVID Condition, also known as Long COVID, family physicians are left with the uncomfortable legacy of figuring out how to care for this poorly defined chronic symptom complex. There is an urgent need for better understanding of the many manifestations of this condition, its pathophysiology, clinical management, and emerging best practices and symptom-directed treatments.

This session was recorded on August 25, 2023 as part of 2023 Family Medicine POP! Information is current as of that date.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, learners should be able to:

1. Describe the clinical spectrum of Long COVID,
2. Identify the main symptom clusters and pathological states associated with Long COVID, and
3. List management strategies and symptom-directed therapies that may improve quality of life.

Target Audience:

This activity is designed for family medicine physicians, and other primary care team members.

Participation and Credit:

There is no credit for this activity.

Support:

This activity is supported by the California Academy of Family Physicians. 

Fee:

There is no charge for this activity.

Cultural/Linguistic Competency:

CAFP policy and California state law requires that each learning activity have elements of cultural and linguistic proficiency included in the content. The definition of cultural and linguistic competency is the ability and readiness of health care providers and health organizations to humbly and respectfully demonstrate, effectively communicate, and tailor delivery of care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, identities, and behaviors, in order to meet patients’ social, cultural, and linguistic needs as it relates to patient health. This activity meets these requirements.

Implicit Bias:

CAFP policy and California state law requires that all CME activities comprising a patient care element include either (1) examples of how implicit bias affects perceptions and treatment decisions of physicians and surgeons, leading to disparities in health outcomes and/or (2) strategies to address how unintended biases in decision-making may contribute to health care disparities by shaping behavior and producing differences in medical treatment along lines of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics. This activity meets these requirements.

Privacy Policy:

The California Academy of Family Physicians (CAFP) is committed to protecting the privacy of its members and customers. CAFP maintains safeguards to store and secure information it has about members and customers. The safeguards may be physical, electronic or procedural. For more information, contact cafp@familydocs.org.

Questions:

For questions regarding the content of this activity or for technical assistance, contact cafp@familydocs.org.

The CAFP has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of accreditation of this continuing education program. Information regarding drugs (e.g., their administration, dosages, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, special warnings, and precautions) and drug delivery systems is subject to change, however, and the learner is advised to check the manufacturer's package insert for information concerning recommended dosage and potential problems or cautions prior to dispensing or administering the drug or using the drug delivery systems.

Any medications or treatment methods suggested in this CME activity should not be used by the practitioner without evaluation of their patient's condition(s) and possible contraindication(s) or danger(s) of use of any specific medication.

Copyright:

© 2023 California Academy of Family Physicians. No part of this activity may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embedded in articles or reviews.