COVID-19 Recovery Program
Patients recovering from COVID-19 may face many challenges, from physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, continued loss of taste or smell, dizziness or headaches, to cognitive symptoms including fatigue, brain fog, or increased anxiety or depression. While physicians and patients alike are still learning about the disease, Cedars-Sinai has developed the COVID-19 Recovery Program to connect patients who are experiencing persistent symptoms after COVID-19 to a network of specialists in order to provide the most comprehensive and best care available based on the latest developing understanding of the disease. Patients can also opt to participate in clinical trials and contribute to a deeper understanding of long-term effects of COVID-19.
Our Locations
With two convenient locations, Cedars-Sinai makes it easy to seek expert care, wherever you are.
Our Leadership
Who Is Eligible
Patients who meet the following requirements are currently being admitted to the COVID-19 Recovery Program by physician referral only. This includes patients who meet all of the following criteria:
- Have had COVID-19, confirmed by a positive test result
- Are experiencing persistent symptoms beyond 12 weeks from initial illness, including but not limited to the following:
- Decreased exercise tolerance, including shortness of breath
- Headaches, dizziness, prolonged loss of sense of taste or smell
- Cognitive conditions, including memory loss, brain fog or mental fatigue
- Mood disorders such as anxiety, depression or PTSD
- Have been evaluated by a primary care doctor in the past six months
- Have not already been evaluated by:
- A post-COVID program or clinic other than Cedars-Sinai
- Multiple specialists in relation to long-term COVID-19 symptoms
What to Expect
Your visit will last about 2 hours and will include:
- Intake evaluation by our clinical coordinator
- Introduction to potential research studies to assess your desire to participate in research
- Neurocognitive screening evaluation
- Full examination and counseling by an infectious disease or pulmonary specialist
- Lab work and referral to additional specialists, including cardiology, neurology, psychiatry, rheumatology, physical medicine/rehabilitation medicine, and others as needed
Frequently Asked Questions
Patients who are enrolled in the COVID-19 Recovery Program must:
- Have a history of confirmed COVID-19 (coronavirus)
- Provide documentation of a positive COVID-19 test
- Have had persistent symptoms for more than 12 weeks following their infection, including but not limited to:
- Difficulty exercising or a decrease in exercise tolerance, including shortness of breath
- Headaches or dizziness
- Chest pain
- Cognitive conditions, including memory loss, brain fog or mental fatigue
- Mood disorders such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Have been evaluated by a primary care doctor in the past six months
- Have not already been evaluated by:
- A post-COVID program or clinic other than Cedars-Sinai
- Multiple specialists in relation to long-term COVID-19 symptoms
If you qualify, your primary care doctor can refer you to the COVID-19 Recovery Program by calling 310-423-1528.
If you don’t have a primary care doctor or haven’t been seen by a doctor recently, you may have underlying medical issues that need to be addressed prior to being evaluated for post-COVID complications. In addition, many post-COVID symptoms can be appropriately addressed and managed by your primary care doctor without requiring specialty evaluation in our program. A doctor's referral is required so that your health condition and needs are reviewed ahead of time and medically deemed as needing more specialized care from the COVID-19 Recovery Program.
If you don't have a primary care doctor, call 1-800-CEDARS-1 (1-800-233-2771)
Without a positive test, we don't know for certain if somebody has had COVID-19 or if their symptoms could be attributed to another illness. We recommend that patients who do not have a positive test consult with their primary care doctor before contacting the COVID-19 Recovery Program.
Your first visit, which takes about two hours, includes:
- An intake evaluation, which is done by our clinical coordinator
- Neurocognitive screening evaluation
- Full evaluation and counseling by an infectious disease or pulmonary specialist
- An introduction to participation in COVID-19 recovery research, with the option of enrolling in our research or medical studies related to COVID-19, if desired
- Lab work
Your first visit might also include referrals to additional doctors, including cardiologists, pulmonologists, neurologists, psychiatrists and physical medicine/rehabilitation medicine specialists, as needed.
Your doctor in the COVID-19 Recovery Program will work with you to determine when specialized care under the program is no longer necessary (most patients require no more than two appointments with their COVID-19 Recovery Program doctor). We will work with you to develop a treatment plan, and once any needed specialty consultations are completed, we will partner with your primary care doctor to transition you back to their care. They will continue addressing and managing any lingering COVID-19 symptoms with you.
No, the program is not a clinical trial. Your consult includes an evaluation with our doctor and all testing and office visits are billed to insurance.
Information about billing and insurance.
To enroll, you need all medical records you have pertaining to COVID-19 treatments (such as imaging, electrocardiograms (EKGs), consultation notes, labs), documentation of a positive COVID-19 test and a doctor’s referral. Our office will provide the fax number for you to send your records when we schedule your initial consult with one of our program doctors.
It is considered normal to have lingering symptoms following COVID-19 for up to three months. Therefore, you should wait until you are having persistent symptoms beyond 10-12 weeks before seeking a referral to the COVID-19 Recovery Program. Patients who were hospitalized due to severe COVID-19 may require follow-up as soon as 4-6 weeks after leaving the hospital.
