On any given day, Huntington Health’s Long COVID Recovery Clinic is busy providing patients with specialized care to manage a whole host of post-COVID conditions, including severe fatigue, debilitating headaches, muscle and joint pain, clotting disorders, and neurological, cardiac, and gastrointestinal problems. Recently the LCRC hit its two-year anniversary — a significant milestone of a crucial community service. Thanks to the clinic’s multidisciplinary teams — neurologists, cardiologists, behavioral health experts, rheumatologists, researchers and more — the LCRC can provide comprehensive treatment to these patients, while studying long COVID. In partnership with Huntington Medical Research Institute and San Diego Biomedical Research Institute, Huntington opened the clinic’s doors in spring 2021 to its first patient, Mark Nestlehutt, a former Huntington patient who suffered from a severe case of
COVID-19 nearly a year before. Most patients recover from COVID-19 in a few weeks, but Nestlehutt developed new health conditions after being discharged: “I’d never had high blood pressure, but it skyrocketed and stayed there. I couldn’t process information the way I used to or communicate clearly. I had to stop working,” he said. Seeing Nestlehutt’s challenges and other patients experiencing similar difficulties, Dr. Kimberly Shriner, medical director of infection prevention and control at Huntington Health, saw an urgent need for the LCRC. “Long COVID, or post-acute sequalae of COVID (PASC), is a mysterious, debilitating and, unfortunately, common event that occurs months after acute COVID infection in up to 30% of infected individuals. It can occur regardless of severity of the initial infection and creates many significant and disruptive, if not health-threatening, symptoms.” To crack the mystery, studying it — not just treating it — is vital. LCRC neurologist Yafa Minazad, an affiliated physician with Huntington Medical Research Institute and medical director of neurology at Huntington Health, agrees. “Numerous patients with long COVID are waiting to enroll in our study so that they can contribute to a better understanding of this disease and their underlying conditions.” Minazad believes the best way to design and plan treatment options is to have a clear understanding of the core pathophysiology and how exactly the virus impacts the nervous system.
Health’s Long COVID Clinic team includes nurse Valentina Monroy (front, from left); Dr. Kimberly Shriner, medical director, infection prevention and control; and nurse Samia Solh. Second row: Dr. Arpine Khudanyan and Dr. Robert Eshbaugh. Back: Erika Cruz, manager, Huntington Ambulatory Care Center; and Ilin Ohanessians, director, neurosciences, rehabilitation and clinical partnerships.
“These pathways need to be investigated and understood, and we need to be prepared to offer better treatment to our patients whose quality of life and productivity have been impacted so significantly,” she said. Several clinics are now dedicated to studying long COVID to understand the causes and develop safe and effective therapies. Huntington’s clinic can offer thorough symptom evaluation, referrals to highly trained specialists, enrollment in the study and therapeutic protocols. “We are indebted to the participation of not only Dr. Minazad, but Dr. Brooke Chandrasoma, pulmonologist, Dr. Kristal Young, cardiologist, and countless others who give their time to the clinic. Their expertise is critical to understanding the long-term impacts of this disease,” Shriner said. She also mentioned their key partnership with HMRI: “HMRI has been a critical partner since the inception of this project, and we are thankful for the collaboration as we continue this important work.” Undoubtedly, this work has been important to Nestlehutt. Many of his symptoms have improved, giving his life some semblance of normalcy. “I feel like Dr. Shriner saved my life twice,” he said, “once in the hospital and again afterward — guiding me through my journey with long COVID.” Many others have benefited from the clinic as well. “The LCRC has already helped nearly 100 patients in our community,” said Jane Haderlein, senior vice president of philanthropy and public relations at Huntington Health. “This important work could not happen without the generous support of our donors, including the Ahmanson Foundation, Altadena Guild of Huntington Memorial Hospital and Pasadena Area Respiratory Health Foundation.” Shriner added: “Thanks to our participants and many exceptional physicians, nurses and researchers who study this disease, we continue to learn more about the long-term effects and symptoms of COVID-19. This is a real disease with real pathology, and our clinic will help us inform the best possible therapy for our patients.” With a doctor’s referral, patients can make an appointment at the LCRC at (626) 397-8410. For more information about long COVID, go to: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html.
First published in the Apr. 20 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
