BC Children's Hospital
BC Children’s Hospital, a flagship program of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), serves as British Columbia’s only dedicated pediatric hospital. It provides both general and highly specialized healthcare for seriously ill or injured children and youth from across BC and Yukon. The hospital’s clinical services include emergency care, critical care (including pediatric intensive care), surgery, organ transplant, oncology, cardiology, neonatology, and mental health. It also operates the Sunny Hill Health Centre, which specializes in developmental assessments and rehab for children and youth with physical and developmental challenges.
Research, Teaching & Innovation
Research is integral at BC Children’s. Its Research Institute supports over 400 research teams, with more than 2,000 members, engaged in discovery, clinical trials, and innovation in child health. Facilities include sophisticated laboratories, imaging cores, biobanking, metabolomics, assistive technology, and other core technologies. It is affiliated with UBC Faculty of Medicine, contributing to training for medical students, residents and health professionals.
Clinics, Support Services & Family-Centred Care
The hospital offers a wide spectrum of clinics and support services. These include outpatient specialty clinics (e.g. allergy, cardiology, endocrinology, orthopedics), child life support and therapeutic programs, and diagnostic imaging. Child Life specialists work with anesthetic units, emergency, ICU, renal, surgical areas and other high-stress clinics to support children and families emotionally and developmentally. Indigenous health, translation services, and culturally responsive care are emphasized.
Access & Practical Information
Referrals are typically required for specialty services. The hospital campus includes both inpatient and outpatient facilities, with amenities such as family navigation volunteers, parking, visitor guidelines, outpatient access, preparation for hospital visits. Emergency Services are always available for acute cases. Appointments, wait times, and clinic locations are listed on web.
Digital Tools & Apps
BC Children’s supports various medical calculation apps: AnthroCalcFetal, GrowthPlot, AnthroCalcUK, BolusCalc, BoneCalc and others, available on iOS and Android. There is also the Breathr app for mindfulness and mental health support for youth, parents, caregivers and health professionals. Updates include journaling, captions, customization, reflective of feedback by the hospital community.
What Patients & Families Should Know
Due to the specialized nature of many services, wait times may vary significantly, particularly for subspecialty clinics. It is important for families to prepare for hospital visits (parking, lodging, navigation), especially if travelling from outside Metro Vancouver. Some services are regional and require travel. For mental health crises or complex care, there are specialized programs, but capacity constraints exist. The hospital emphasizes family-centred care, but space in private rooms or amenities may be limited.
