At-Home Care for COVID-19 Patients with Jeffrey Linder, MD, MPH
Millions of people are now living with COVID-19 and their long-term outcomes are unknown. Northwestern's Jeffrey Linder, MD, says more research studies on this group are needed to provide better information about COVID-19 care before, during and beyond the hospital.
"I hope I'm wrong, but I think it's more likely that we're going to be living with COVID-19, managing it as it percolates through communities for the next couple years–in the absence of a game-changing medicine or a vaccine."
- Chief of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in the Department of Medicine
- Michael A. Gertz Professor of Medicine
- Member of the Institute for Public Health and Medicine’s Center for Primary Care Innovation
- Member of Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute
Episode Notes
As COVID-19 cases begin to wane in Chicago, Jeffrey Linder, MD, is adopting a "wait and see" approach before becoming too optimistic about a possible summertime drop in the number of cases. His team is planning ahead for the possibility of a delay in a vaccine or cure that could last months or years. They also plan to investigate how COVID-19 patients recover and if any relapse or develop other health conditions after having the virus. They also want to understand how to best treat patients who are minimally symptomatic and how to catch signs of a worsening condition in those who are recovering at home.
Through an at-home monitoring program, Linder's team has engaged with more than 7,500 patients with the disease. The patients have filled out questionnaires daily, detailing their symptoms. They were also given guidance on how to care for themselves at home. Linder says home supportive care includes fluids, oxygenation, healthy diet, physical activity (low-intensity) and symptom management.
His team is now assessing the data collected and will soon be publishing their findings.
Additional Reading:
- Read Linder's editorial in The BMJ.
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Recorded on June 2, 2020.
Continuing Medical Education Credit
Physicians who listen to this podcast may claim continuing medical education credit after listening to an episode of this program.
Target Audience
Academic/Research, Multiple specialties
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Identify the research interests and initiatives of Feinberg faculty.
- Discuss new updates in clinical and translational research.
Accreditation Statement
The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation Statement
The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine designates this Enduring Material for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Disclosure Statement
Jeffrey Linder, MD, MPH, has nothing to disclose. Course director, Robert Rosa, MD, has nothing to disclose. Planning committee member, Erin Spain, has nothing to disclose. Feinberg School of Medicine's CME Leadership and Staff have nothing to disclose: Clara J. Schroedl, MD, Medical Director of CME, Sheryl Corey, Manager of CME, Jennifer Banys, Senior Program Administrator, Allison McCollum, Senior Program Coordinator, and Rhea Alexis Banks, Administrative Assistant 2.