Adaptations for rehabilitation services during the COVID-19 pandemic proposed by scientific organizations and rehabilitation professionals.
Luz H Lugo-Agudelo, Kelly Mariana Cruz Sarmiento, Maria Alejandra Spir Brunal and 8 others
PMID 34427688WHAT IT FOUND
Rehabilitation associations issued service adaptations prioritizing inpatient care for critical patients and shifting outpatient services to telerehabilitation.
They mandated strict infection control, including PPE and screening, to prevent transmission while maintaining access for urgent and vulnerable populations.
Key findings
01Associations recommended ensuring rehabilitation for patients recovering from COVID-19 to prevent complications, prioritizing transfer to acute care and early mobilization in multidisciplinary teams.
02Outpatient services were adapted by restricting face-to-face care for high-risk patients and prioritizing first-time consultations, with a strong recommendation for transition to telerehabilitation where possible.
03Strict infection prevention measures were recommended, including the use of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene protocols, and screening of patients and staff to minimize transmission in rehabilitation settings.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The review relies on information published on websites, which may have been indexed inconsistently, potentially missing relevant documents. There is no evidence on the long-term outcomes of these service adaptations. The recommendations do not address access to COVID-19 vaccination for professionals and patients. Data from low- and middle-income countries is limited, affecting the generalizability of the findings.
Declared interests
No specific conflicts of interest or funding sources were reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these recommendations are evidence-based interventions that have been proven to improve patient outcomes. They are expert consensus and policy adaptations issued during an emergency, and the text explicitly states that the implemented strategies have not yet been proven.