To this end, Amana has devised a four-stage process that helps to restore the physical and cognitive functions that are often diminished in the aftermath of the disease, particularly over long periods of care in an ICU.
Dr Jason Gray, Senior Director for Clinical Operations at Amana Healthcare, says: “COVID-19 can confine patients to medium- to long-term care in an ICU or acute hospital setting. Recovery brings new challenges, such as regaining breathing functions, physical movement, muscle strength, and healthy body weight and composition. Cognitive functions such as attention, memory and mood may also present psychological challenges. This is when the rehabilitation phase begins, and where Amana’s post-COVID-19 rehabilitation program comes in.”
Amana’s post-acute rehabilitation (PAR) service is led by an in-house team of multidisciplinary (MDT) specialists which include physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, dietitians, rehab nurses and social workers.
One of the patients who is undergoing the post-COVID rehabilitation program as tele therapy, is Shamilah Ahmad.
Shamilah says: “Recovering from COVID-19 seemed such a long way away once I was discharged from the hospital for the second time. This is where the post-COVID rehabilitation program from Amana Healthcare stepped in and changed the course of my recovery. For me, to have a team of multidisciplinary therapists who are looking after me, who care about not just my physical, but also cognitive wellbeing, gives me the strength to continue to fight the impact of this virus. I don’t feel alone anymore as I had been made to feel previously. Psychologically this is a huge step in itself.”
She says that the program has given her confidence in her ability to recover. “Through the help of this rehabilitation program, I hope to be able to get back to my normal life, and to return to work doing the job I love and the hobbies that I enjoyed. Amana’s rehabilitation programme has made this possible, and I feel and see improvement in myself daily and I hope to continue to make progress until I reach my goal.”