The Telethon Clinical Research Centre or Outpatient Clinic D- Research has been adjusted to accommodate changes to clinical set up in the hospital. Despite the changes and reduced capacity, there are still research outpatient clinic appointments occurring in line with standard rules, guidelines and procedures based on current advice from CAHS and the WA Department of Health. 

We are also able to accommodate new or reactivated research studies, however relevant approvals from the organisation are required, in addition to relevant processes for ethics and site governance approvals. In the meantime, please contact your research support team for more information or the CAHS Department of Research for initial advice and information.

There is currently capacity to meet increasing research activity in the allocated clinic space. CAHS and TKI management are working closely to monitor the increasing demands so that we can appropriately predict when additional research clinic space may be required. Please only conduct research in approved research clinic locations - not in other clinic areas.

Making Research Clinic bookings

If you are still undertaking research that is approved for ongoing clinical appointments, the booking system is via the standard process. Approved researchers receive specific information about the booking process and requirements for managing research clinic appointments during local area orientation. Adherence to these procedures allows the research department team to continue to support you and provide oversight to the clinical space designated for research appointments. Please follow these procedures as normal, plus any additional guidelines during COVID-19 management.

You can find out details about the current research clinic set up here.

Please discuss any individual circumstances or requirements with Rachel West, CAHS Clinical Nurse Manager - Research. 

PCH Visitor Guidelines

• Check the full PCH visitor guidelines which includes information regarding entrances to use.
• Remember only one person is allowed to accompany a patient.
• Siblings are not allowed to attend.
• Please do not provide alternative access to research participants through the northern entrance.
• On arrival to PCH all patients and visitors will be screened. 
• Perth Children’s Hospital has implemented the SafeWA app with a new QR code, in line with the Premier’s press conference on 1 February 2021.
• Please follow the current guidelines around the conduct of research outpatient clinic appointments. 

Additional information and relevant guidelines 

Some initial issues to consider, noting that some links are only accessible on HealthPoint for those with staff viewing access:

• The use of remote contact as much as possible is encouraged. Consider options to reduce the time of face to face contact such as discussing issues to do with the PICF or appointment expectations via phone in advance of the onsite visit.
• Visit the WA Department of Health COVID-19 information for health professionals page. It contains a range of information on clinical guidelines, PPE donning and doffing, infection prevention and control in hospitals and testing advice.
• Visit the CAHS Coronavirus Update (for WA Health user access only) for additional information about the latest Clinical Care Guidelines, Staff Health and Infection Prevention and Control. This provides site specific as well as WA Health information.
• Research clinic bookings and cancellations made via the usual process. For any clarification or further information, please Rachel West. 
• In line with usual booking processes please ensure that a CAHS clinician is available onsite for participant review if required.
• Any incidents associated with the attendance at a clinic (or other relevant context) of a participant known, or later discovered, to be symptomatic should be promptly reported as an adverse event or safety issue.
• Reporting can be completed via use of the form available for institutional reporting on the website titled CAHS Adverse Event/Serious Adverse Event Notification Form (WA health staff access only).

For ease of contact tracing, a PCH research attendance checklist for use during COVID-19 pandemic has been created. Please complete a new copy for each research visit, and place in participant source notes.

Unscheduled Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI) Visits

As per current Outpatient Department guidelines, participants with any acute respiratory symptoms (cough and/or sore throat and/or shortness of breath) cannot attend research clinic at PCH. For studies that require unscheduled visits for the surveillance of respiratory symptoms alternative locations should be considered as per HREC approval e.g. home visits, COVID clinic.

For parents and families 

For parents and families visiting the Research Outpatient Clinic, further information is available that may be of interest:

• Coronavirus information - messages from HealthyWA, CAHS, PCH
• Visiting PCH

Medical Records