Hubei opens first COVID-19 rehab outpatient clinic

WUHAN -- Central China's hardest-hit Hubei province on Thursday opened its first rehabilitation facility for patients cured of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Hubei Provincial Hospital of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Tong Xiaolin, an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and head of the treatment group of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said the facility is necessary as COVID-19 patients, especially the severe cases, may have symptoms of fatigue, ache and lack of appetite after being discharged from the hospital and need time for their pulmonary functions to recover.

The rehab clinic has an outpatient appointment system and will make personalized treatment plans for patients, according to Xiao Mingzhong, associate consultant physician at the infectious disease department of the Hubei Provincial Hospital of TCM.

The treatment plans include not only orthodox TCM therapies like herbal medication, acupuncture and Tuina, a type of therapeutic massage, but guidance and psychological intervention, Xiao added.

To avoid cross-infection, the rehab outpatient facility also provides online diagnosing and prescribing services, as well as the delivery of medicines.

The duration of the clinic's operation will depend on the needs of patients, said a source of the hospital.