Opportunity 6:
System Navigation
Remove the care navigation and coordination burden from people with Long COVID and their caregivers.
For: Health care providers, and support and assistance providers.
Short-term Recommendations:
Chronic illness knowledge transfer: Study and draw on lessons from complex care programs and other models of caring for illnesses such as HIV, cancer, and other chronic illnesses.
Long-term Recommendations:
Coordinated and comprehensive Long COVID clinics: Improve coordination between health care providers, researchers, and case managers at Long COVID clinicss so that people with Long COVID have a comprehensive, one-stop shop experience.
Care navigation support: Assign care coordinators or case managers to assist people with Long COVID with scheduling and coordinating health care appointments.
Disability insurance navigators: Offer third-party, neutral navigators who can assist people with Long COVID as they apply for disability insurance and other assistance programs.
Long COVID care program incentives: Offer incentives for health care facilities, medical practices, and health insurers to have a dedicated program and staff trained on Long COVID care coordination and treatment pathways, and who can serve as an in-house advisor to colleagues.
Mobile care and telehealth: Deploy Long COVID-specific mobile units and increase telehealth services for people who have difficulty accessing care, such as those in rural communities.