Boston,MA – Boston Medical Center’s (BMC) ReCOVer Long COVID Clinic is at the forefront of research into the complex and evolving condition,four years after its establishment.Despite remaining uncertainties surrounding the causes of long COVID, the clinic emphasizes a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to treatment, driven by patient insights and participation in national initiatives.
“We still don’t really know what causes long COVID,” stated huang, a physician at the clinic. “The only way we’re going to get better at treating it is by seeing more patients. We’re learning as we go, and we’ve learned that our patients are our best teachers. they’ve taught us that everything is fair game in long COVID land. We’re learning together.”
BMC is actively involved in multiple research projects, including its role as a site for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded RECOVER initiative – the largest U.S. effort dedicated to studying long COVID. the RECOVER initiative includes both observational studies of symptom clusters and treatment trials, and uniquely features a patient portal allowing individuals to submit medication suggestions for research.
“It’s a true partnership, which I hadn’t seen before long COVID, which is very rewarding to me,” said Marathe.
Through the NIH-funded Massachusetts Community Engagement Alliance (MA-CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities, led by Benjamin P. Linas,MD,the clinic has also focused on outreach to underserved communities. Marathe spearheaded a project to train long COVID ambassadors, particularly within non-English-speaking populations, to recognize symptoms and advocate for care. Current efforts are focused on developing educational modules for clinicians to improve consistent identification and management of long COVID.
The team expresses optimism that ongoing research will yield discoveries with broader implications for understanding and treating chronic illnesses.
“Millions of people are experiencing lingering symptoms with no other explanation,” Marathe explained. “This opens the gates for improving our knowledge and investing resources in studying long COVID more closely, which could also help us understand other chronic illnesses. I think ultimately knowledge is power in and of itself, but when it is translated to helping people who are struggling, it improves lives.”
