Early Motor Screening
We conduct virtual motor assessments for children with identified medical risk factors, which help determine whether an infant needs a more thorough evaluation for possible motor development challenges.
The Early Motor Screening Program is a provincial screening program that aims to identify babies who may develop motor conditions.
An occupational therapist or physiotherapist conducts a general movements assessment (GMA). General movements are patterns you can observe during a specific time in a baby’s development. They provide information on how the baby’s central nervous system is developing, and predict later motor conditions.
The clinician reviews and scores the general movements shown in a video of your baby. You can record the video at home. It is a quick, simple, standard assessment, but you must do it during a specific time in your baby’s development.
Referral information
To access our services, patients need a referral from a health-care provider. Providers can find more details on the process via the Early Motor Screening Referral page.
Appointment details
Families will receive a letter confirming that we have received a referral to assess your baby.
The best date for the general motor assessment is different for every baby, due to the baby's gestational age. When your baby's general motor assessment date approaches, the booking clerk will call you to confirm your information and ask for your consent.
Video recording at home
- The booking clerk will provide the assessment date range, and email you step-by-step instructions explaining how to record and upload the video to a secure web link
- Record a 2-to-5-minute video of your baby on any day during the given dates. Upload the video to the secure web link according to the instructions. If you cannot record or upload the video, consider asking a family member, friend or the booking clerk for technical support
- Once received, the clinician will review and score the video
- The booking clerk will arrange a virtual or phone appointment to discuss the results, and next steps if needed. Your baby does not need to attend the virtual or phone appointment. The clinician will make appropriate referrals or recommend an appointment with a developmental pediatrician for more assessments, if required
Please contact the booking clerk if you cannot record or upload your video. We can schedule an in-person appointment to record your baby's movements at Sunny Hill Health Centre at BC Children's Hospital, or make other arrangements.
The in-person video recording appointment takes around 15 to 30 minutes. For video recording, your baby must be awake, calm and alert. Ensure your baby is fed, changed and comfortable for the appointment.
Note: We use Sync, a secure file-sharing platform that protects your video's privacy. Our team will save your video to a secure location and delete it from the platform. We do not accept videos sent by email or other platforms.
Contact us
Address:
Sunny Hill Health Centre
4500 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3N1
Phone: 604-875-2345
Email: CPEDC@cw.bc.ca
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Indigenous Health
We advocate for and provide support to Indigenous patients and families who are visiting the hospital.