Adolescent Medicine
Who we are
The PCH Adolescent Medicine and Eating Disorders (AMED) Department is the only hospital-based medical unit in Western Australia that caters specifically for adolescents with complex health needs.
We provide both inpatient and outpatient care and support.
Our large multidisciplinary team includes professionals from medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, social work, physiotherapy, clinical psychology, psychiatry and education.
Conditions we manage
The AMED Department sees young people with complex medical issues such as:
- Eating disorders (external link) (also see the Eating Disorders Program for further information)
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Pain syndromes
- Physical symptoms secondary to underlying emotional difficulties (somatisation).
The AMED team also provides consultation on cases involving adolescents with chronic illnesses (such as cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease and arthritis), mental health issues, drug and alcohol use, and other complex conditions.
Services we provide
- Inpatient management of patients admitted to PCH under the care of the AMED Department
- Outpatient management of patients referred to the Adolescent Medicine clinic
- Medical input for the Eating Disorders Program
- A specific program for young people with chronic fatigue syndrome
- A consultation role for inpatients admitted under the care of other medical and surgical teams
- Collaboration with other PCH departments that have a strong emphasis on adolescent health
- Coordination of the multidisciplinary team
- The Chronic Illness Peer Support (ChIPS) program, a supportive program designed to connect young people aged 12 to 25 who are living with chronic illnesses.
Referrals
All Specialist Rooms, GP’s and WACHS referrers are being advised to direct all non-urgent referrals for PCH outpatient services to the Central Referral Service.
Online
https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Central-Referral-Service-guide-for-referrers
- New referrals will be assessed against the eligibility guidelines and prioritised according to medical need.
- Referrals from Nurse Practitioners, other non-medical referrers and private hospitals (including those with a private-public partnership) are to be directed to PCH Referral Office.
- All urgent referrals are to be sent to the PCH Referral Office.
- Urgent referrals must always be discussed with the PCH Consultant / Registrar on call before the referral is sent.
- The referral needs to include the name of the Consultant/ Registrar the referrer spoke to.
- Each referral is to be faxed individually.
PCH switchboard
PCH Referral Office fax
PCH Referral Office email