Post-COVID: rehab can alleviate symptoms and ensure participation

Interdisciplinary rehabilitation increases the chances of post-COVID patients improving their symptoms. This is the conclusion reached by the German Federal Pension Insurance (DRV) and the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) in a joint key issues paper on medical rehabilitation for post-COVID syndrome. With the help of the key points paper, the DRV and DGUV want to improve the care of those patients in whom several organ systems are affected and for whom rehabilitation concepts focused on one specialist area alone are not sufficient.

“We launched programs early on in the pandemic to help those affected, but also to learn more about the disease and treatment options,” says Dr Edlyn Höller, Deputy Director General of the DGUV. One example is the Post-COVID Check and Post-COVID Rehab, which are offered to people insured under the statutory accident insurance scheme via the BG clinics. “We have experience with over 100,000 cases from these programs alone, which have been incorporated into our key issues paper.

The aim of the key points: The DRV and DGUV want to support rehabilitation facilities in designing appropriate services for their insured persons. “But the paper is also helpful for those affected and their doctors. They will find orientation for the selection of suitable offers,” says Gross. “The key points therefore supplement the existing medical guidelines.”

The key points paper on medical rehabilitation for post-COVID syndrome is available on the website of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV).