NYC Hospital Group Examines Impact Of Long COVID On Black, Latino Communities

As COVID-19 cases rise again this summer, one hospital group in New York City has joined the national effort to examine the impact long COVID is having on Black and Latino communities.

After Dora-Louise Summers caught COVID-19 two years ago, she never quite fully recovered.

"Brain fog, shortness of breath, feeling weak," Summers said, describing her symptoms. "You know the answer to it, but when you get ready to say it, it's like wait a minute."

Summers recently found herself referred to Mount Sinai's new long COVID clinic in East Harlem, where Dr. Rachel Engelberg is studying the ongoing effects of the pandemic on underserved communities.

"Patients who are in Harlem and the Bronx were hardest hit by COVID during the height of the pandemic, so these are likely the populations that are really bearing the brunt of long COVID now, so there's definitely a need to reach those patients and get them into care," said Dr. Rachel Engelberg of Mount Sinai Hospital.

Mount Sinai is one of nine long COVID clinics nationwide, now established and funded by the federal government for five years as they meet monthly to share their case studies.

"We can more formally standardize what the protocols are for treating patients with long COVID, so that for the majority of doctors, it's not such a confusing situation where you're not sure what to do, but maybe it becomes more algorithmic of how you approach the different symptom burden," Engelberg said.

Engelberg says, while there is no cure or treatment standard yet, the team can help alleviate the ailments that come with long COVID.

"Take them seriously because other things can materialize behind that," Summers advised.

If you are experiencing some of the same symptoms as Summers for three months or longer beyond your COVID diagnosis, see a doctor about your options.

Each long COVID program received $1 million from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.