Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, significantly impacting individuals with chronic conditions who depend on continuous medical care. In Romania, the pandemic revealed systemic vulnerabilities, particularly in ensuring access to services for older adults and rural populations. This study aimed to assess perceived barriers to healthcare access and service quality among Romanian patients with chronic diseases and a confirmed history of COVID-19, within the framework of the country’s multi-tiered healthcare system. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2025, involving 16 adult participants diagnosed with at least one chronic illness. Data were collected using a 30-item questionnaire administered by the principal investigator after obtaining informed consent. The instrument explored access to services, challenges related to remote consultations, and satisfaction with nursing care. Descriptive and comparative analyses were carried out based on age group and area of residence. Due to the small sample size, the results are considered exploratory and context-specific. Results: Most participants reported disrupted access to healthcare services, especially within public sector facilities. Rural residents experienced longer delays in receiving care than those in urban areas. Digital health tools were perceived as barriers by 75% of respondents aged 60 and above, while younger participants adapted more easily. Overall satisfaction with nursing care was moderate to high (mean score: 3.56/5), with the highest ratings observed among patients aged 30–60 years. Conclusions: This study highlights significant barriers to healthcare access among Romanian patients with chronic illnesses and a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis during the pandemic. The key challenges included digital exclusion and rural–urban disparities. The findings underscore the need for targeted strategies to enhance digital health literacy, adapt care delivery models, and strengthen healthcare system resilience in future public health emergencies.

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in healthcare systems, especially in ensuring continuity of care for patients with chronic diseases. Rehabilitation services, essential for recovery following SARS-CoV-2 infection, were among the most disrupted. This exploratory study aimed to assess Romanian patients’ perceptions of the accessibility and quality of post-COVID-19 rehabilitation services, focusing on individuals with chronic conditions. Methods: This exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted over a 12-month period in 2024. Data were collected from 76 adult patients diagnosed with at least one chronic condition (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, cancer, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and with confirmed prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most participants were recruited during outpatient specialty consultations, with a smaller number included from hospital settings, all located in Bucharest. A structured questionnaire was administered by the principal investigator after obtaining informed consent. Quantitative data were analyzed using non-parametric methods following confirmation of non-normal distribution via the Shapiro–Wilk test (p < 0.05). Satisfaction scores were reported as medians with interquartile ranges (IQR), and group comparisons were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including thematic analysis of open-ended responses. Results: Patient satisfaction with rehabilitation services was consistently low. The median satisfaction scores [IQR] were accessibility 1.0 [0.0–2.0], quality of services 0.0 [0.0–4.0], staff empathy 0.0 [0.0–5.0], and perceived effectiveness 0.0 [0.0–5.0]. The median score for perceived difficulties in access was 1.0 [1.0–2.0], indicating widespread barriers. No statistically significant differences were observed between urban and rural participants or across chronic disease categories. Thematic analysis (n = 65) revealed key concerns including lack of publicly funded services, cost barriers, limited physician referral, service scarcity in rural areas, and demand for home-based rehabilitation options. Conclusions: Romanian patients with chronic illnesses and previous SARS-CoV-2 infection continue to face substantial barriers in accessing post-COVID-19 rehabilitation services. These findings highlight the need for more equitable and integrated recovery programs, especially for vulnerable populations in underserved settings.

Background: Persistent functional symptoms may occur during post-acute recovery following SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly among patients with pre-existing chronic diseases. However, structured outpatient approaches for the systematic assessment of functional status remain insufficiently described. This pilot study aimed to characterize functional findings in adults with chronic diseases assessed after SARS-CoV-2 infection using simple outpatient assessment measures and to explore a descriptive approach for characterizing functional findings in routine outpatient practice. Methods: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional pilot study including 38 consecutive adult outpatients (aged 38–82 years) evaluated between April and June 2025 in a university-affiliated outpatient setting. Participants were assessed during the post-acute recovery period, between four weeks and six months after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Functional evaluation included the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, Borg scale (at rest and post-effort), pulse oximetry at rest and after a one-minute sit-to-stand test, and heart rate monitoring. Data were analyzed descriptively in accordance with the exploratory nature of the study. Results: Fatigue (57.9%; 95% CI: 42.2–72.1) and dyspnea (44.7%; 95% CI: 30.2–60.3) were the most frequently reported symptoms among participants assessed after SARS-CoV-2 infection, followed by sleep disturbances (42.1%; 95% CI: 28.0–57.8), anxiety (36.8%; 95% CI: 23.8–52.4), and palpitations (26.3%; 95% CI: 14.2–43.7). Post-effort oxygen desaturation ≥4% was observed in 11 participants (28.9%), whereas a final post-effort SpO₂ below 94% was recorded in 22 participants (57.9%). Five participants (13.2%) demonstrated a final post-effort SpO₂ below 92%, and 10 participants (26.3%) met both the criteria of post-effort desaturation ≥4% and final post-effort SpO₂ below 94%. Within the exploratory categorization approach, participants were grouped into preliminary mild (28.9%), moderate (36.8%), and severe (34.2%) functional categories. Conclusions: This exploratory pilot study describes functional findings observed in adults with chronic diseases during post-acute recovery following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Simple outpatient assessment measures may contribute to a structured description of symptom burden and functional status in routine clinical practice. The proposed categorization should be interpreted as a descriptive exploratory approach rather than as a validated clinical framework or decision-making tool. Further prospective studies involving larger cohorts are needed to evaluate reproducibility, clinical relevance, and potential applications in outpatient assessment.