COVID-19 and research processes

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 close to monitor the increasing demands so that we can appropriately predict when additional research clinic space may be required. Please only conduct research in approach 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 - please note these have been updated as of 2 June 2020

• Check the full PCH visitor guidelines.
• Remember a maximum of TWO people may accompany a patient. One of whom maybe a sibling under 16. 
• Entrance to ALL visitors is via the Green lifts or the Emergency Department only. On arrival to PCH all patients and visitors will be centrally screened at the Visitor Assessment Checkpoint by a Nurse for COVID-19. COVID-19 screening stickers will be given to all parents coming through the assessment checkpoint. If no sticker, the screen will need to be done at research reception. If reception is not attended, please ensure that the participant and parent are asked the following questions:
• To attend an appointment at PCH please ensure that both the child and accompanying parent are well with:
  
  • No overseas travel in past 14 days AND
  • No interstate travel in the past 14 days AND
  • No contact with confirmed cases AND
  • No fever (≥ 38.0°C) OR acute respiratory symptoms (cough and/or sore throat and/or shortness of breath).
• Please do not provide alternative access to research participants through the northern entrance.
• 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 guidelines on Clinical Care for Paediatric Patients, Summary of Key Infection Prevention and Control,  Recommendations for Staff  and Wipes Information Guide . 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.
• Social Distancing across CAHS (for WA Health user access only) including Staff Social Distancing Measures, Patient Interaction and Key Behaviours.
• 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