Assessment Clinics

We recommend:

1. Clinics are located with access to EDs and only inside existing EDs where a separate waiting and treatment area can be clearly defined.
2. Clinics have a separate entrance that prevents patient transit through hospital areas.
3. Patients are physically separated according to social distancing recommendations, with special provision for paediatric patients who cannot be separated from carers.
4. Resuscitation equipment is available within clinics, and rapid activation/communication/ transport to another appropriate resuscitation space is available.
5. Existing infrastructure is used as a preference, where well-ventilated and secure sites are available.
6. There are attempts to minimise queueing of patients (such as through use of appointments).
7. Facilities adopt their relevant State or Territory guidelines for appropriate triage, PPE and infection prevention and control.
8. Staff entry and exit is maintained using a logbook.

We align with the following regional guidelines:

1. Victorian Department of Health and Human Services Guidance on Acute Respiratory Assessment Clinics.

The following resources were used in the preparation of this section:

• Rojek, A, et al. Early clinical response to a high consequence infectious disease outbreak at the Royal Melbourne Hospital Emergency Department – insights from COVID-19. Med J Aust. 16 March 2020. [Link]

Resources that are relevant to this section can be accessed through the Clinical Guidelines web-based material [Link]. COVID-19 related ACEM Resources [Link], COVID-19 related external resources [Link], and the latest Government advice on COVID-19 [Link] are also available.

This section has been developed to assist clinicians with decisions about appropriate healthcare in Emergency Departments in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand during the COVID-19 outbreak. It is a framework for planning and responding to this pandemic, including the assessment and management of patients.

This section is targeted at clinicians only. Patients, parents or other community members using it should do so in conjunction with a health professional and should not rely on the information in the guideline as professional medical advice.

The section has been developed by an expert team of practising emergency physicians, by consensus and based on the best evidence available. The recommendations contained do not indicate an exclusive course of action or standard of care. They do not replace the need for application of clinical judgment to each individual presentation, nor variations based on locality and facility type.

The section is a general document, to be considered having regard to the general circumstances to which it applies at the time of its endorsement.

It is the responsibility of the user to have express regard to the particular circumstances of each case, and the application of the section in each case.

The authors have made considerable efforts to ensure the information upon which it is based is accurate and up to date. However, the situation is rapidly evolving, and a certain amount of pragmatism needs to be employed in maintaining such a ‘living document’. Users of this section are strongly recommended where possible to confirm that the information contained within the document is correct by way of independent sources. The authors accept no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success or failure of any treatment regimen detailed. The inclusion of links to external websites does not constitute an endorsement of those websites nor the information or services offered.

The section has been prepared having regard to the information available at the time of preparation and the user should therefore have regard to any information, research or other material which may have been published or become available subsequently.

Whilst we have endeavoured to ensure that professional documents are as current as possible at the time of their creation, we take no responsibility for matters arising from changed circumstances or information or material which may have become available subsequently.