Reconfigure rehabilitation services during the Covid-19 pandemic: best practices from Southwest China

Abstract

Purpose

The healthcare system and service capacity are overwhelmed by the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a substantial unmet need for rehabilitation service to all patients affected by Covid-19 directly or indirectly. This article aims to describe how to rapidly reconfigure and bring rehabilitation services back during the pandemic.

Method

The Steer committee meeting was held for the development of a strategic preparedness plan and safety management based on principles and evidence of rehabilitation, which will lead to effective mitigation of consequences resulted from Covid-19.

Results

Five measures were taken in Southwest China during the pandemic, which includes the “First contact responsibility” and management system; the full-coverage system for nosocomial infection control; the “Closed-off management” system; the full-coverage system for body temperature monitoring; the adoption of 5G-based telerehabilitation. With the implementation of these measures, the capacity and capability were enhanced to safely reopen and operate rehabilitation facilities in Southwest China.

Conclusion

Further measurement of quality of care and outcomes during and beyond the pandemic is needed in transforming the healthcare system and improving rehabilitation services. Hopefully, the positive message conveyed by this paper could encourage and support communities and the society of physical medicine and rehabilitation worldwide during this challenging time.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Rehabilitation services are essential and there is an unmet need posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

• A feasible strategic plan and safety management measures are critical to reconfigure the capacity and capability of rehabilitation services suspended by Covid-19.

• The adoption of tele-rehabilitation technology has the potential to reshape public health emergency responses and the delivery of care.

• Measurement of quality and outcomes is of great importance to inform transformation and adaptation of rehabilitation services during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Keywords:

• Covid-19
• emergency preparedness
• evidence
• health services
• rehabilitation medicine

Disclosure statement

The authors certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript.

Authors’ contributions

All authors contributed equally to the manuscript and read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation [81972146 to Chengqi He, and 82002393 to Siyi Zhu], the Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province [20YYJC3320 to Chengqi He, and 21ZDYF1918 to Siyi Zhu], China Postdoctoral Science Foundation [2020M673251], Health Commission of Sichuan Province [20PJ034], and West China Hospital of Sichuan University [HX-2019-nCoV-011 to Chengqi He, and 2019HXBH058 to Siyi Zhu]. The funders played no role in the design, conduct, or reporting of this study.