Provincial Virtual Post COVID ESD team

With a growing number of Albertans suffering from post-COVID symptoms, St. Mary’s Stroke Early Supported Discharge team piloted a program to provide virtual care to clients in rural Alberta who were seeking assistance. The Provincial Virtual Post-COVID ESD Team built on the success of that program, expanding the geographical boundary for both staff and clients. The program opened up to include post-COVID clients anywhere within Alberta who had an internet connection. Its aim was to fill the gap in service for clients living outside large urban centres who were three to 12 weeks post-infection, and had post-COVID Functional Scale scores of two to four.

Over the course of the 12-week pilot program, a team of rehabilitation professionals and support staff from across disciplines provided personalized rehabilitation therapy over Zoom. The program focused on managing residual symptoms and improving functional independence.

The pilot exceeded expectations in terms of the quality of services it provided. It built strong partnerships with clients and their families, stakeholders and care partners as it worked toward health and healing. And most importantly, it provided hope and help for people who would not otherwise be able to access the support they needed. As one client puts it, “this program was a game changer for me.”