Adolescent Medicine

The Department of Adolescent Medicine provides expert inpatient and outpatient services for adolescents aged 12 to 18 years with a variety of acute and chronic medical problems that may or may not be complicated by additional psychiatric comorbidities.

Areas of expertise include management of eating disorders, psychosomatic (mind and body) illness including assessment of headaches and abdominal pains, and general medical illnesses such as acute infections.

We provide expert assessment and ongoing management for these conditions and pride ourselves on establishing strong relationships with young people and their families. These relationships are at the core of the treatment plan.

We also offer one of only four specialist Adolescent Medical Units in Victoria providing inpatient and outpatient care for young people with eating disorders.

The unit, led by the head of Adolescent Medicine, Dr Jacinta Coleman has grown into an expert multi-disciplinary team which includes a team of paediatricians with expertise in adolescent health. Other team members include our Nurse Unit Consultant who coordinates the care of young people with eating disorders, dietitians who specialise in the management of eating disorders and administrative assistants.

The team is ably supported by the hospital consultation liaison psychiatric team, a teacher, social worker, art and music therapists, as required.

Eight acute beds are available for young people with an eating disorder at Monash Children’s Hospital, Clayton. Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating disorders and other feeding and eating disorders. These beds are for patients who require management of physical complications of their illness.

Adolescent Medicine also provides consultation in the management of patients admitted under other sub-specialty units who require a specialist approach for their adolescent needs.

Additional mental health support is available from the Early in Life Mental Health Service (ELMHS) which includes inpatient support from the Paediatric Consultation Liaison (CL) Psychiatry Team, community treatment teams and the Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Unit Stepping Stones. The Wellness and Recovery Program is also available to young people, aged between 12-24 years, with more chronic, enduring eating disorders.

Please note that the department does not provide services for adults with eating disorders (17 to 18 year olds not living at home) and not attending school. These patients can be treated by the Adult Eating Disorders Unit.

External referral process

GPs are requested to refer onto this service using the Victorian State-wide Referral Form housed in most clinical software. More information on VSRF – www.gpv.org.au then click on resources or contact your local Divisions of General Practice. Please review the Adolescent Medicine Referral Guidelines prior to submitting a referral.

Internal referral process

Phone: (03) 8572 3780
Fax: (03) 8572 3647

Referrals will be received by

Monash Children’s Hospital Emergency Department
Consultant at Monash Children’s Hospital
Monash Children’s Hospital ward
Monash Children’s Hospital department
Community and private paediatricians and psychiatrists GP
Child and adolescent mental health providers

GP investigations to be performed

General Practitioners examinations/investigations should include a general examination. If referring a patient for assessment of anorexia nervosa please organise:

FBE, ESR, U&E, LFT, TFT, iron studies, Mg, PO4,Ca, Zn, FSH, LH, random BSL and ECG.

Cost

Nil to patients eligible for Medicare, Veteran Affairs, TAC or WorkCover patients.

Patients ineligible for Medicare will be charged a fee for all services provided.

Where

Outpatients

Thursday, 1.15-4pm
Clinic A, Ground floor
Monash Children’s Hospital
246 Clayton Rd, Clayton

Inpatients

Ward 4B Aviary
Level 4
Monash Children’s Hospital
246 Clayton Rd, Clayton

Staff

By referring into this clinic you will be referring to one of the following practitioners:

Dr Jacinta Coleman (Head of Unit)
Dr Natasha Parekh
Dr Kayte Gillman
Dr Kypros Kyprianou
Dr Edwina Montgomery
Dr Stephanie Lee

Phone: (03) 8572 3780