What is a PICS Recovery Clinic? How to Find One
At a Glance
PICS (Post-Intensive Care Syndrome) clinics are multidisciplinary outpatient centers at major academic hospitals that help survivors of critical illness and sepsis recover. If you cannot access one, your primary care doctor can help recreate this care by referring you to individual specialists.
In this answer
4 sections
Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) clinics, sometimes referred to as post-sepsis recovery clinics or ICU recovery clinics, are specialized outpatient centers designed to help survivors of critical illness manage long-term recovery [1][2]. While “post-sepsis syndrome” is a distinct condition, specialized clinics exclusively for sepsis are rare; instead, survivors typically receive care in these broader PICS or ICU recovery clinics [3][4].
These centers act as a “one-stop shop” for recovery. Because post-sepsis syndrome can affect your body, mind, and emotional well-being, PICS clinics use a multidisciplinary approach—bringing together a variety of specialists to coordinate your care in one place [2][5].
What Happens at a PICS Clinic?
Instead of making separate appointments with multiple different specialists, a PICS clinic evaluates your recovery from several angles simultaneously. A typical multidisciplinary team may include:
- Physical and Occupational Therapists: To rebuild muscle strength, improve mobility, and help you regain independence in daily tasks [6][7].
- Neurologists and Cognitive Specialists: To assess and treat “brain fog”, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating [2][8].
- Psychologists or Psychiatrists: To provide therapy and medical management for trauma, depression, and anxiety that often follow critical illness [6][2].
- Respiratory Therapists: To help with breathing difficulties if you were on a ventilator [5].
- Pharmacists: To review the complex mix of new medications you may have been prescribed [1][9].
These clinics use specialized screening tools to track your progress over time and adjust your rehabilitation plan [10][11]. They also frequently connect survivors with peer support groups, which provide essential emotional support during recovery. Additionally, many of these centers now offer telehealth options for patients experiencing severe fatigue or mobility issues [12][13].
Do I Qualify for a Clinic?
Because these clinics are often resource-limited, many have specific admission criteria. While there is no universal standard, many prioritize patients who had a prolonged stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), were on a mechanical ventilator, or experienced delirium [14][15].
What if I wasn’t in the ICU? Sepsis survivors can develop Post-Sepsis Syndrome even if they were treated on a regular hospital floor [16][17]. However, you might find that an “ICU Recovery Clinic” will not accept your referral. If this happens, some hospitals have expanded their services into “Post-COVID Recovery Clinics,” which may accept post-sepsis patients with similar compounding symptoms.
How to Find a Clinic
There is currently no complete, universally available public directory of PICS clinics [1][9]. The majority of structured ICU recovery programs operate out of major academic medical centers or university-affiliated hospitals [18][19].
To find a clinic, you will likely need to proactively ask your primary care doctor for a referral. Many general practitioners may not be familiar with the term “post-sepsis syndrome.” When asking for a referral, it is helpful to:
- Use the terms “Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) clinic” or “ICU Recovery Clinic.”
- Ask if your doctor can check the largest academic or university hospitals in your region for multidisciplinary ICU follow-up programs.
- Contact the hospital where you were initially treated, particularly if it was a large center, to ask if they have a post-ICU recovery team.
Creating a Backup Plan for Adults and Children
Sepsis affects adults and children differently, and dedicated multidisciplinary clinics are unfortunately scarce for both groups. If you or your child cannot access a PICS clinic, you will need to build your own care team.
- For Adults: If an academic center is not an option, or if you were not in the ICU and do not qualify for an ICU Recovery clinic, work with your primary care doctor to act as your “quarterback.” Ask them to coordinate individual referrals to a physical therapist, a cognitive or speech therapist, and a mental health counselor who has experience with medical trauma [16][20].
- For Children: Pediatric PICS clinics (PICS-p) place a much stronger emphasis on child development and family-centered care [21][22]. Because dedicated pediatric post-ICU clinics are very uncommon [23][24], your child’s pediatrician will likely need to coordinate individual referrals to pediatric physical therapists, neurologists, and child psychologists to recreate this multidisciplinary approach.
Common questions in this guide
What specialists work at a PICS recovery clinic?
Do I qualify for an ICU recovery clinic if I wasn't in the ICU?
How do I find a post-sepsis recovery clinic near me?
What should I do if I can't find a PICS clinic in my area?
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Curated prompts to bring to your next appointment.
- 1.Does this medical network have a Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) clinic or an ICU Recovery clinic I can be referred to?
- 2.What are the specific eligibility requirements for the recovery clinics in our region, and do they offer telehealth?
- 3.I am experiencing Post-Sepsis Syndrome but was not in the ICU. If I don't qualify for a PICS clinic, can you refer me to a Post-COVID or generalized medical recovery clinic?
- 4.If a specialized clinic isn't available, can you help me build a care team by referring me to a physical therapist, a cognitive therapist, and a mental health professional who have experience treating medical trauma?
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References
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This page provides informational resources on finding PICS and post-sepsis recovery clinics. It does not replace professional medical advice; always consult your primary care doctor for referrals and care coordination.
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