ALBANY COUNTY — Patients who have recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19 but who are experiencing lingering symptoms can now be treated by a team of specialists at the Post-COVID Care Clinic at Albany Medical Center.

“After the first wave of the pandemic, we began to see COVID-19 patients who were no longer acutely ill but who had persistent symptoms related to the virus,” said Anupama Tiwari, M.D., a pulmonologist in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Albany Med and director of the Post-COVID Care Clinic, in a release from Albany Med.

She continued, “This new clinic enables us to treat any lingering lung issues, as well as connect patients with other specialists across the medical center to address the full range of health issues that can result from a COVID-19 infection.”

Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately one-third of COVID-19 patients experience prolonged illness.

These patients, often called “long-haulers,” have lingering symptoms weeks to months after their acute symptoms have resolved, including shortness of breath, a cough, fatigue or exhaustion, a racing heart, chest pain, inability to concentrate, and a general feeling of malaise.

As part of the initial visit to the clinic, each patient receives a pulmonary function test to evaluate how well the respiratory system is working. Further tests, referrals or treatments are based on each individual’s symptoms and medical history.

“Whether a patient needs a CT scan to look for possible blood clots, an echocardiogram to check for any damage to the heart or another test, our goal is to identify the underlying causes of a patient’s illness and help him or her back to improved health and functionality,” said Tiwari in the release.

The Post-COVID Care Clinic at Albany Med treats patients 18 years of age or older who have a documented positive test for COVID-19 or COVID-19 antibodies, but who are no longer acutely ill (for example, presenting with a high fever or chills), and who have lingering symptoms at least four weeks after their initial diagnosis. Telemedicine visits are offered after an initial consultation or if travel to the clinic is prohibitive for the patient.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer