Long COVID persists in 11% of healthcare workers six months after infection, study finds

Sep 28, 2026

A study led by University of Iowa researchers reveals that long COVID symptoms persist in 11% of healthcare workers six months after infection, threatening workforce sustainability. This health crisis compounds severe systemic challenges, including widespread clinician burnout and shortages. Simultaneously, private equity firms are heavily acquiring hospitals, loading them with debt, cutting support staff by 20%, and selling off real estate, which critics argue degrades patient care and financial stability.

Prevalence of long COVID in healthcare workers

▪In the University of Iowa study, 11.3% of healthcare workers reported persistent moderate or severe symptoms at both three and six months post-infection.
▪A study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that long COVID symptoms persisted in approximately 11% of healthcare workers six months after contracting the virus.
▪The long COVID study, led by University of Iowa researchers, analyzed roughly 1,600 participants who contracted COVID-19 between August 2022 and May 2024.

Factors associated with long COVID risk

▪Researchers found no significant association between recent COVID-19 vaccination and persistent long COVID symptoms among the surveyed healthcare personnel.
▪The University of Iowa study found that older workers, female workers, and those with underlying health conditions were more likely to report persistent long COVID symptoms.

Healthcare worker burnout

▪Healthcare professionals and medical students attended the 'Healthcare is Human' rally outside the U.S. Capitol on May 21, 2026, to advocate for legislation to relieve short staffing and combat burnout.
▪The American Medical Association reported that more than four in 10 doctors experienced symptoms of burnout in 2025.

Mental Health Professional shortages

▪Projections indicate that the United States will face a shortage of mental health counselors, therapists, and psychiatrists by 2038.
▪According to the Health Resources & Services Administration, 40% of the United States population lived in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area as of December 2, 2025.

Private equity in healthcare

▪Private equity firms buy healthcare providers expecting them to produce better financial returns than the stock market, often converting providers from nonprofit to for-profit status.
▪A 2025 study of over 200 private equity-owned hospitals found that those re-resold to another private equity group saw operating margins decrease by more than 8% compared to those sold to other for-profit owners.
▪Hospitals owned by private investors were found to have higher rates of patient falls, higher hospital-acquired infection rates, and lower scores in standardized quality ratings.
▪A study of hospital acquisitions found that provider staffing was reduced by 6% over four years following a private equity takeover, with support staffing cut by 20%.

Hospital real estate sales

▪Hospitals that sold their real estate to a real estate investment trust experienced a significant decrease in fixed asset value and were six times more likely to close or file bankruptcy.
▪The Center for Economic and Policy Research found that private equity companies often used proceeds from hospital real estate sales to pay investor dividends instead of making capital improvements.

State regulation of private equity

▪A Connecticut law prohibits private-equity owners from holding a majority stake in a hospital, interfering with clinical decisions, or engaging in sale-and-lease-back transactions.
▪Since 2024, nine states have enacted legislation regarding private equity investment in hospitals, with most focusing on notification requirements for ownership changes.

AI applications in healthcare

▪AI-powered contact center solutions are being deployed in behavioral healthcare to allow natural, two-way dialogue for patient inquiries, medication refills, and scheduling around the clock.
▪Healthcare IT leaders are utilizing AI ambient listening technology and therapy scribes to capture, transcribe, and structure clinical conversations in real time to reduce therapist documentation burnout.

Debatable claims

▪Private equity ownership of hospitals does more harm than good
▪Healthcare employers should guarantee modified schedules for staff suffering from long COVID