Medical Investigation Facility

Your visit to the Medical Investigation Facility

Your child's doctor has scheduled your child for testing in the Medical Investigation Facility (MIF). The MIF is a diagnostic area for both inpatients and outpatients, where more complicated or specialized testing is performed. The area is used primarily by the Endocrinology & Diabetes Unit, but is also occasionally used by the Biochemical Diseases Clinic and the Multi-Organ Transplant Clinic.You can find out more information about endocrine testing in the Medical Investigation Facility Testing handout.

Note: If you need to cancel, please contact the MIF or the clinic as soon as possible so that your appointment time can be used by another patient.

Where is the Medical Investigation Facility located?
What should I do to prepare my child for testing
What will happen in the MIF?
What should I bring to the MIF?

Where is the Medical Investigation Facility located? (top)

British Columbia's Children’s Hospital
4480 Oak Street, Room 2C30
(inside the Medical Day Unit area, 2nd floor of the hospital, follow the signs from the elevators or stairs to MDU/MIF)
Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4 Canada
Phone: 604-875-2345, local 7591 / fax: 604-875-2098

Click here for a map to our hospital.

What should I do to prepare my child for testing? (top)

Some tests require your child to be fasting from the night before or to take medications a couple of days prior to your testing. Your doctor will give you specific instructions when they inform you about your appointment in the testing room.

Most tests in the MIF require starting an intravenous needle (IV). The IV is how we deliver our medications and draw our blood samples (if more than one blood sample is required).

If your child is afraid of needles, you can buy a non-prescription cream, such as EMLA® or Ametop™ to numb the skin where the needle will be inserted. They are available at most pharmacies and should be applied at least one hour prior to coming to MIF.

If you are unsure about the preparation or have any questions, please call the nurses in the MIF.

What will happen in the MIF? (top)

When you and your child arrive in the MIF, you will meet the nurses, Anne and Mabel. They will settle your child onto a stretcher with a warm blanket and prepare him/her for the test. The area has quite an extensive collection of children’s movies and a TV for each child. Your child will be able to watch TV or pick a movie before the test gets started.

Depending on the type of test we will be performing, once the IV is inserted and the test is begun, your child will be required to be resting on a stretcher for anywhere from 1 to 8 hours.

What should I bring to the MIF? (top)

If you have one, please bring your blue Children’s Hospital card with you to your visit, as well as your your BC CareCard.

You may like to bring some quiet activities, school work, favorite toys or videos/DVDs to help entertain your child during a long test.

Space is very limited in the MIF; if possible, please make other childcare arrangements for siblings.

Page Last Updated: 13 June 2009

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PHSA improves the health of British Columbians by seeking province-wide solutions to specialized health care needs in collaboration with BC health authorities and other partners. For more information, visit http://www.phsa.ca

PHSA agencies include: BC Cancer Agency, BC Centre for Disease Control, BC Children’s Hospital and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, BC Mental Health & Addiction Services, BC Provincial Renal Agency, BC Transplant, BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, and Cardiac Services BC.