Comunidad: Bringing better Long COVID care to underserved South Texas communities
Comprehensive Long COVID Care for Underserved Communities: Innovative Delivery and Dissemination Models (Comunidad)
This program will expand coordinated, culturally appropriate Long COVID care and outreach for people in San Antonio and rural South Texas who face barriers to medical and social services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177745 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a patient with Long COVID in South Texas, this project aims to make it easier to get timely, coordinated care by expanding a multidisciplinary clinic and partnering with local providers. The program plans to shorten long waits for new appointments, increase access to social workers and mental health services, and train primary care teams to recognize and manage Long COVID. It will also use community outreach and culturally tailored information to reduce misinformation and connect people who lack reliable access to care. The work will run over five years and test sustainable delivery and dissemination models across San Antonio and neighboring rural communities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living in San Antonio or nearby South Texas communities with ongoing symptoms after COVID-19—especially Hispanic/Latino and underserved patients with limited access to care—are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who live outside the clinic’s catchment area or whose symptoms are not related to prior COVID-19 infection may not benefit from this local program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, people with Long COVID in the region could get faster, more coordinated care, better support for social needs, and clearer information about managing their symptoms.
How similar studies have performed: Specialty Long COVID clinics have helped patients elsewhere, but testing sustainable delivery and outreach models focused on underserved, largely rural Hispanic/Latino communities is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
San Antonio, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Science Center — San Antonio, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verduzco-Gutierrez, Monica — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Verduzco-Gutierrez, Monica
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.