Dr. Verduzco-Gutierrez: AAPM&R Members Push Long COVID Call to Action Forward

February 25, 2022

Last March, we officially called on President Biden and Congress to prepare and implement a comprehensive national plan focused on the needs of millions of individuals suffering from the long-term symptoms of COVID-19, also known as Long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC).

Our efforts are focused on ensuring patients receive the care they need while also communicating the value of PM&R in rehabilitation care aligned with the Academy’s mission and vision. To that end, we have pushed several efforts forward and are working to ensure our member leaders have been consistently featured in front of key decision makers in various news outlets. Take a look at some arenas where your peers are spotlighted:

Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, MD, FAAPMR, professor and chair of the PM&R department at the University of Texas Health San Antonio and director of the COVID Recovery Clinic at University Health; member of AAPM&R's Multidisciplinary PASC Collaborative

• She was interviewed for this Axios article, “Long COVID is contributing to America's labor shortage” where she discussed Long COVID symptoms and the debilitating impact it is causing on the workforce.
• On February 3, she testified before the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee in the hearing on Bridging Health Equity Gaps for People with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions. Her testimony focused on the impact of Long COVID on people with disabilities and how it is creating a new population of disabilities. She talked about the devastating impact of this condition and the further damage caused by the lack of access to care, particularly multi-disciplinary rehabilitation care. She emphasized AAPM&R’s call to action and the important work our PASC Collaborative is doing.