Prepare
Children are referred to this clinic for an assessment (check-up) focused on growth and hormone function. The clinic has a multidisciplinary approach to taking care of children and families, and you may meet the endocrinologist and several members of the endocrine team:
- clerical staff to book appointments, lab tests and x-ray studies
- an endocrine nurse clinician to help you understand your child’s condition and treatment
- a social worker/counsellor who can assist you in coping with the stresses of your child’s condition, as well as searching for helpful resources
Because BCCH is a teaching hospital, you may also meet doctors-in-training (pediatric residents, endocrinology fellows and medical students).
You and your child will talk to the nurse and have measurements done, and then be seen by the clinic endocrinologist. The staff endocrinologist may be assisted by a doctor-in-training who will talk to you about your child’s health and then do a complete “physical” (check-up), which may include a visual check of the genitalia. You will be with your young child for the entire visit.
Young adults and parents are welcome to see the clinic staff separately, if desired.
Based on your visit and your referring doctor’s information, the endocrinologist will discuss the next step of the process with you. Further tests (blood tests, x-rays, etc) if necessary, are done elsewhere in the hospital and possibly on another day.
Your first visit will be a minimum of 1½ hours. At the end of the assessment, your doctor will discuss with you the need for further tests (if necessary) to be done elsewhere in the hospital, possibly on another day. Plan on being at the hospital for at least 2 hours. Younger siblings may find this tiring, and although they are welcome, alternative babysitting arrangements may make your visit more comfortable.
Please let us know your questions and any way we can make this visit more comfortable for you.
It is important to your child to make this visit as informative as possible, so the adult(s) who come with her/him should have the best knowledge of the history. If possible, bring previous height and weight measurements. Please bring the following to each clinic visit:
- your BC CareCard/Service Card
- a list of all of your child's medications
- If you have a number of questions, most parents find it handy to make a list to bring with them
Your child may require bloodwork at their first visit. EMLA® are Ametop™ are effective topical anesthetics when applied 1–2 hours prior to the “needle poke”. Ask the nurse about this when you arrive.
Many of our patients or parents would like to see the Social Worker/Counsellor on the first visit. If this is the case, please call her at 604-875-2345, x7091, so that she can book an appointment during the time you will be here.
