Restoring Employees’ Health After COVID-19
Author: Jennifer Meyers
While most people with COVID-19 get better within weeks of illness, others continue to experience chronic and diverse symptoms. Some people continue to struggle with symptoms many weeks or months following a COVID-19 infection.
Long-COVID, also known as Post-Acute COVID Syndrome (PACS), is the development of chronic and potentially debilitating symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive impairment, weakness, headache and dizziness and many other symptoms. Long-COVID can happen to anyone after a COVID-19 infection, even if their illness was mild, or they didn’t experience any initial symptoms. Long-COVID symptoms might not appear until weeks after infection.
Long-COVID symptoms can affect multiple organ systems. Several scientific studies have hypothesized that the virus may cause dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Long-COVID symptoms may include:
Neurological symptoms
• “brain fog” (difficulty thinking, reasoning or concentrating)
• headaches
• vision problems, including blurry vision or double vision
• loss of taste and loss of smell (called parosmia)
Cardiovascular symptoms
Severe COVID infections can cause long-term heart damage. Even those who had mild symptoms may have recurring or chronic heart and vascular problems. This includes:
• high blood pressure
• blood clots and vein (vascular) damage
• chest pain
• dizziness when standing up
• heart palpitations
Respiratory symptoms
Long-COVID can cause persistent problems with oxygen levels and in the lungs resulting in:
• exhaustion after little exertion
• fatigue
• low levels of oxygen in tissues throughout the body
• shortness of breath
• cough
Mental health issues
A range of psychological problems can arise after a COVID-19 infection. This may be a result of the virus itself or from stress associated with having a serious illness (and/or living with long-term residual symptoms). Psychological support can help address mental health issues people may be dealing with, including:
• anxiety
• depression
• insomnia and other sleep disturbances
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
How can employers help?
Employers want employees to fully recover and thrive after a diagnosis of COVID or Long-COVID. Recovering from Long-COVID can take time. Each person’s return-to-work challenges after a Long-COVID diagnosis will be different.
When feasible, employers are encouraged to offer COVID long haulers “return to work” job modifications, if needed. Some workplace adaptions to consider, include:
• a gradual return to work, so the employee can build up stamina
• allowing part-time (or remote work), if possible
• offering a quiet “respite” area for regular rest breaks
• other modifications that may be requested by the employee (examples: temporary job rotation to limit fatigue, use of a stool or an additional rest break)
Diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation
Employers should be aware of available resources and encourage employees to seek appropriate medical care to address post-COVID struggles. A range of medical specialists and therapists now specialize in caring for people dealing with long-haul COVID symptoms. The ultimate goal is to return COVID patients to their baseline functioning in their personal, work and community life.
Advocate Aurora Health has established a “Long Hauler” COVID Recovery Clinic to help those with persistent symptoms of COVID-19. This multi-disciplinary clinic incorporates a variety of therapeutic approaches. It offers education, outpatient physical and occupational therapy and behavior health services to support wellness and coping. The staff works closely with patients to find effective strategies to help them manage their symptoms while offering a support system to promote health and healing.
Flexibility and understanding are key
When properly diagnosed and treated, most employees with Long-COVID will improve over time. When they feel supported during their COVID recovery, employees often recover quicker and hopefully will reach their previous level of productivity. Employers who demonstrate flexibility and understanding during the recovery process are more apt to retain their key staff. Both employers and employees will benefit. These employees are likely to remain loyal and anxious to contribute their knowledge and skills to the workplace — both now and in the future.
Advocate Aurora Employer Solutions offers a wide range of customizable employee health programs and solutions to help you and your employees live well and work well. Customized solutions could include health benefit plans, COVID-19 resources, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), employer clinics, occupational health, wellness services and more. We'll partner with you to create a personalized program that meets your employees’ needs and goals while aiming to lower your bottom line. Visit employersolutions.aah.org to learn more.
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At Advocate Aurora Health Jennifer Meyers serves as an occupational therapist and supervisor of Rehabilitation Services, RiverCenter and Midtown. She also assists in the coordination of Advocate Aurora’s Workforce Health Services in Wisconsin.
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