Helping your patients manage ongoing COVID symptoms

Long COVID is an emerging issue, and our understanding of the condition is evolving. The Agency for Clinical Innovation has developed a clinical practice guide for assessment and management of adults with long COVID-19.

HealthPathways is developed based on this guidance and can be used to guide assessment and management for patients with Long COVID.

In NSW, the long-COVID-19 model of care outlines a stepped approach across four stages through which people with symptoms of Long COVID-19 may receive care:

• Self-management: Most people with symptoms of Long COVID-19 will self-manage these symptoms. Primary care support may be required by GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS’) or community primary care providers such as physiotherapists and exercise physiologists.
• GP/AMS management: Individuals will receive care and management through their GP (and GP team, where available) and/or AMS, where self-management alone is not sufficient.
• Integrated Care management by LHD: For people whose care can no longer be managed by GPs or AMS’ alone, locally-based Integrated Care Planned Care for Better Health (PCBH) teams can support navigation and coordination of care, and/or facilitate referral to specialist services, as required.
• Multidisciplinary specialised care by LHD teams: Some people may require review and management via a multidisciplinary specialist service. This may occur through referral in stage 2, or in some circumstances, GPs/AMS’ with well-established partnerships with specialist services may refer directly to these services based on the referral criteria outlined in the Community HealthPathway.

Throughout all stages of care, the person’s GP/AMS remains a core member of the healthcare team.

We have included the below resources that you can use with patients who present with post-COVID-19 symptoms.

HealthPathways – Post-COVID-19 conditions