Emergency
Aerial view of Vancouver General Hospital Campus

PeriOperative Anaphylaxis Clinic (POAC) at Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre

The PeriOperative Anaphylaxis Clinic (POAC) is the first clinic in Canada to combine Anesthesiology specialists and allergy and immunology specialists assessing patients who have had severe reactions while receiving surgery.

How to access

  • Check eligibility

    The clinic assesses patients with a documented >grade II anaphylaxis reaction under anesthesia where multiple drugs are suspected, and the patient requires controlled substances for intradermal, skin prick, and blood testing.

  • Get a referral

    A referral is required. Have your primary care provider complete the POAC referral form and email it to allergy@vch.ca or fax it to (604) 675-3683, along with a demographic sheet and anesthetic record.

    POAC referral form

    For referring professionals:

    Please note that our clinic runs once per month. We see patients at a minimum of 4-6 weeks post-anaphylaxis reaction to increase the sensitivity of skin testing.

    For urgent referrals, please contact allergy@vch.ca directly and attention to Dr. Julena Foglia for discussion and triaging.

    Currently, our waitlist is upwards of 4-6 months.

  • Prepare for your appointment

    Please complete the patient history form and bring it to this appointment.

    During this consultation, you will have a meeting with our anesthetist.

    • Please bring currently prescribed medications in their original containers.
    • Bring any vitamins & supplements that you are presently taking.
    • Bring your Care Card and legal photo ID, such as a driver’s license, BC provincial ID, or passport.

    Please read the patient instructions below (which provides a list of antihistamines and medications you are NOT TO TAKE one week before attending the clinic. 

    Patient instructions

    1. The patient must not take antihistamines one week before attending the clinic. These include: 

    • Reactine (Cetirizine)
    • Claritin (Loratadine)
    • Aerius (Desloratadine)
    • Allegra (Fexofenadine)
    • Blexten (Bilastine)
    • Rupall (Rupatadine)
    • Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
    • Atarax (Hydroxyzine)

    2. You should avoid other medications listed below; however, please check in with your primary physician first. Some medications below require a slow taper; you should not stop taking them without consulting your primary physician. If you cannot come off these medications, please get in touch with our clinic assistant at allergy@vch.ca.

    • Antidepressants/Psychiatric medication (Amitriptyline, quetiapine, doxepin, and imipramine)
    • Oral Steroids (Prednisone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone)

Hours of operation

Clinic runs once per month from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Parking and transportation

Pick-up and drop-off

Contact the service, program or department for pick-up and drop-off information.

Parking

Pay parking 
If you're driving to VGH, leave enough time to find parking before your appointment. Consider dropping off elderly family members before seeking parking. Parkades can be found at the intersection of 12th Avenue and Laurel Street and within the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre at the corner of 12th Avenue and Oak Street.

Additional parking options, including parkades, street meters, and lots, are available within two or three blocks of the hospital. Refer to the site map for the parking symbol and respective locations. Note that overnight parking is not permitted for trailers or mobile homes. One-week parking passes for the VGH West 12th Avenue Parkade (at Laurel Street) can be purchased from the pay stations located in the parkade.

Download parking rates for VCH facilities

Wheelchair accessible parking
In both VGH parkades, wheelchair-accessible spaces are located near the elevators on levels 1, 2, 3 and 4. Metered spaces are available at the street level of the Jim Pattison Pavilion (enter from 12th Avenue) and within the inner courtyard. Be sure to display your “Disabled” parking permit.

Parking meters on-site
Some metered spaces are available outside the main entrance of the Jim Pattison Pavilion for dropping off and picking up patients. Other evening and weekend meters are within the inner courtyard north of 12th Avenue, entrance off Heather Street.

Free parking
You may find two-hour free parking between Oak and Granville streets (southwest of the hospital) and between West 12th and West 20th Avenues. Read the signs before you park. Parking attendants survey the area regularly, and many blocks are designated for residents only. 

For more parking information, please call (604) 875-4832.

    Public transportation

    VGH is accessible by TransLink services from Vancouver International Airport, BC Ferry Terminals at Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen, Pacific Central Station (downtown Vancouver rail and bus station), and SkyTrain stations.

    • Nearby bus routes include 9, 15, 17, and 99 B Line on West Broadway.
    • Canada Line access from Broadway-City Hall station located at West Broadway and Cambie St. (~1km walk or use aforementioned bus routes).

    Plan your trip on the TransLink website

    Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)

    Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) offers specialized health-care services to residents in Vancouver and across the province through regional programs. We provide a full range of basic and highly specialized emergency health-care and trauma services to British Columbia.

    PeriOperative Anaphylaxis Clinic (POAC)

    The PeriOperative Anaphylaxis Clinic (POAC) is the first clinic in Canada to combine Anesthesiology specialists and allergy and immunology specialists assessing patients who have had severe reactions while receiving surgery.