JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute Launches Program to Address Lingering Effects of COVID-19

Multidisciplinary Post-COVID Rehabilitation Program Helps Individuals Recover as Fully as Possible from Long-Term Effects

Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute has created the Post-COVID Rehabilitation Program to enable patients to recover as fully as possible from the lingering effects of the novel coronavirus, including shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness or even muscle or neurologic complications long after the virus is gone.

The program is a key part of the COVID recovery services available through the Hackensack Meridian Health COVID Recovery Center. The center provides medical support to recovered COVID-19 patients in New Jersey and the surrounding tristate area as they continue on their path to health. Based on the screening results, the physician will create a customized care plan and connect the patient with specialists if needed.

The JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute program helps post-COVID patients who have been hospitalized with serious illness as well as those who recovered at home but continue to experience symptoms. Just a handful of elite rehabilitation institutes such as JFK Johnson have post-COVID rehabilitation programs.

JFK Johnson’s rehabilitation team members include specialized physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians as well as highly trained pulmonary, cardiac, neurologic, physical and occupational therapists and nurses. Patients have the option of telehealth visits when appropriate.

The Post-COVID Rehabilitation Program uses the full range of specialized programs at JFK Johnson.

“The virus impacts people differently,” Talya Fleming, M.D., medical director of the Aftercare Program and Stroke Recovery Program at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, said. “So to provide everyone with the best outcome, we use all of our expertise: neurologic, pulmonary, cardiac, medical, psychological and social. For many people who have had COVID-19, this rehabilitation program is the beginning of a new journey to a full recovery.”

Learn more about innovative rehabilitative care at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute.