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Celebrating 2 Years of MERC: Transforming Medical Education for ME/CFS and Long COVID

 

In 2022, we set out to educate healthcare professionals about diagnosing and managing ME/CFS and other chronic complex diseases.

 

Today, we are thrilled to celebrate the successful completion of the second year of the Medical Education Resource Center (MERC) at Bateman Horne Center, supported by Open Medicine Foundation (OMF). Here is a snapshot of our reach so far.

We invite you to help mark this significant milestone and explore MERC’s latest valuable resources:

 

1. Staying Within Your Energy Envelope by Modifying Tasks

 

In this insightful video, occupational therapist and mother of a teenager with severe ME/CFS, Amy Mooney, MS, OTR/L, shares her expertise on helping patients maximize their energy envelope. 

2. Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM): It’s Not Laziness or Deconditioning

 

Part of our BASICS series, this video explains the defining characteristic of ME/CFS, post-exertional malaise (PEM).  Physical therapist, Clayton Powers, DPT, details the symptoms, triggers and definitions of PEM.

3. Orthostatic Intolerance

 

Part of our BASICS series, physical therapist, Clayton Powers, DPT, explains the signs and symptoms associated with an intolerance to upright activity. This short video describes what it means to experience orthostatic intolerance and how to pace upright activity. 

4. Chronic Illness: What I Want You to Know

 

With summer holidays upon us, it’s important to communicate your needs to loved ones. This customizable resource can help you convey crucial messages about your chronic illness and set clear expectations.

5. Post-Exertional Malaise and Pacing

 

We have developed a brief educational video on Post-Exertional Malaise and Pacing, which was submitted for the Unite2Fight International Conference. This quick resource provides valuable insights for better understanding these concepts. 

6. Post-Exertional Malaise: The Price of Exertion

 

BHC’s Dr. Melanie Hoppers, delivers an important lecture on post-exertional malaise (PEM) to medical professionals as a part of the Post-COVID Primary Care ECHO series. Highlights include PEM pathophysiology, making a diagnosis, recognizing PEM triggers, and supporting the clinical management of patients with PEM.  

7. ME/CFS Crash Survival Guide

 

The guide is designed for the patient, their support network, and care team to:

  • Understand ME/CFS and its defining characteristic, post-exertional malaise (PEM).
  • Help the individual prepare in advance for a crash/PEM episode, ensuring their critical needs are met.
  • Offer adaptive guidance in carrying out everyday living activities that support energy conservation with ME/CFS. 

We need your help to advance this urgent mission!

 

Help us continue advancing our work in providing help and hope to the millions of people suffering. Your contribution today, no matter the amount, will further our medical education initiatives and help transform healthcare for individuals with ME/CFS and Long COVID around the globe.