Zuckerberg General Hospital: Address, Phone & Patient Info

Zuckerberg San Francisco General is part of the San Francisco Health Network, which is operated by the San Francisco Department of Public Health. It is a public safety-net hospital serving San Francisco residents regardless of ability to pay, insurance status or immigration status.

The hospital also has a longstanding academic partnership with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). UCSF faculty physicians, trainees and other health professionals provide care, teach and conduct research at ZSFG.

ZSFG is also the only Level 1 Trauma Center serving San Francisco and northern San Mateo County, making it a major regional destination for serious traumatic injuries.

How patients are seen

The Emergency Department does not promise first-come, first-served treatment. Triage staff prioritize the sickest and most seriously injured patients. Someone who arrives after you may therefore be treated first.

Waiting can also be affected by laboratory results, imaging, specialist consultation, medication preparation or the availability of an inpatient hospital bed.

Emergency Department visitors

ZSFG’s current visitor guidance lists Emergency Department visitation at all hours, generally with 1–2 visitors at a time. Clinical or safety circumstances can require additional restrictions.

Age-Friendly Emergency Department

ZSFG operates an Age-Friendly Emergency Department in Building 25 for older adults. Patient-navigation support is available at 628-206-1125, with a social worker contact at 415-519-3277.

Psychiatric Emergency Services

Psychiatric Emergency Services is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for people who need psychiatric assessment at ZSFG. For an immediate emergency, call 911.

Adult Urgent Care

ZSFG describes urgent care as same-day care for conditions such as cough, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, joint or muscle pain and mild asthma when the problem is not life-threatening.

Go to the Emergency Department instead for:

• Chest pain.
• Sudden severe dizziness or fainting.
• Severe injury or uncontrolled bleeding.
• Sudden loss of vision.
• Difficulty speaking.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Severe abdominal pain.
• Signs of labor.
• Psychiatric emergency.
• Any other potentially life-threatening condition.

Pediatric Urgent Care

Pediatric Urgent Care is in Building 5, 6th Floor, Unit 6M. Walk-ins are welcome. The Children’s Health Center also provides pediatric care and can be reached at 415-206-8383; its appointment number is 415-206-8376.

Examples of specialty appointment contacts

The Family Birth Center offers labor, delivery and postpartum care, prenatal services, lactation support and a 24-hour midwifery service. ZSFG says staff physicians in the birth center are UCSF faculty members and anesthesiology coverage is available around the clock.

The center also offers private labor-and-delivery rooms, family support and multilingual maternity care. Labor and delivery visitation is listed as available at all hours, subject to room size, patient condition and staff judgment.

Before entering

• Visitors check in at the lobby.
• Bring photo identification.
• Wear the visitor badge visibly.
• Do not visit if you have fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea or otherwise feel sick.
• People under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
• The campus is drug-free and smoke-free.
• The hospital is weapon-free and visitors pass through weapons detection.
• Bags may be checked.
• Clinical teams can restrict visits when necessary for patient care or safety.

Current public parking rates

Metered street parking is also available in parts of the surrounding area, but other street spaces have time limits. For a long outpatient appointment, surgery or inpatient visit, the garage is usually easier to plan around than searching for street parking.

Muni routes serving the campus

Free shuttle options

UCSF operates free shuttle service to multiple UCSF locations, including ZSFG, and the service is available to patients, visitors and staff.

ZSFG also provides a free shuttle between the hospital and the 24th St. Mission BART station during peak commute periods.

SF Paratransit can provide van and taxi transportation for eligible people with disabilities who cannot independently use regular public transit.

Is there one fixed emergency-room fee?

No single flat patient ER price is published that can accurately represent every emergency visit. An emergency visit may involve facility services, laboratory testing, imaging, medication, procedures, observation, specialist care or hospital admission.

ZSFG also notes that patients may receive separate estimates for professional services from SFGH Medical Group.

Is there a standard doctor consultation fee?

ZSFG does not publish one universal doctor consultation or “case fee” that applies to every physician and clinic. Patient responsibility depends on the service, insurance coverage, eligibility program and other factors.

How to estimate a planned service

ZSFG also publishes a CMS-compliant machine-readable file containing hospital standard charges, including gross charges, discounted cash pricing and payer-negotiated charge information. Those files are primarily transparency data and are not the same as a guaranteed final bill for a specific patient.

Financial-assistance office hours

The Patient Financial Assistance Department currently lists weekday service beginning at 8:00 a.m. and is closed for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. The SF Health Network billing page lists telephone billing support from 8:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

How to apply for Charity Care or a Discount Payment Program

1. Request or download the combined financial-assistance application.
2. Complete the patient and household information.
3. Provide the income/verification documents requested for the program.
4. Keep copies of the application and supporting documents.
5. Mail the completed package to the Patient Financial Assistance Department or follow the current submission instructions.
6. Call 628-206-3275 if you need help completing the application.

Mailing location for financial-assistance applications:

Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
Patient Financial Assistance Department
1001 Potrero Ave, Building 20
San Francisco, CA 94110

Hospital patients go through a financial-eligibility process so ZSFG can verify existing coverage or determine whether another program may help when a patient does not have insurance.

Before a planned appointment

• Bring your current insurance card.
• Bring photo identification if available.
• Confirm whether a referral is required.
• Confirm whether prior authorization is required.
• Ask whether your specific clinic/provider is covered.
• Ask about financial assistance before canceling necessary care because of cost concerns.

Common record requests

• Hospital discharge records.
• Emergency Department records.
• Clinic notes.
• Laboratory results.
• Imaging reports.
• Medication history.
• Records for another physician or hospital.
• Personal copies of the health record.

Fastest way to start

MyChart can also support video visits and online follow-up when that type of visit is appropriate for the patient’s care.

Services available

• Outpatient prescription dispensing.
• Discharge prescriptions for eligible ZSFG patients.
• Specialty medications.
• Shingles vaccination.
• Free prescription delivery.
• Interpreter and language support.
• Special medication packaging by request.
• Medication and sharps take-back.

Specialty Pharmacy delivery is available within San Francisco, including delivery of medications that require refrigeration.

ZSFG says interpreter support is available for people who do not speak English, use English as a second language, have impaired vision, or have hearing/deafness-related communication needs.

Patients should not feel required to use a child or family member as their medical interpreter when professional language assistance is available.

Accessibility

The campus map identifies accessible public restrooms and patient drop-off areas, and the hospital provides accommodations for patients with disabilities. If you need a specific accommodation, tell the clinic before the appointment when possible.

ZSFG’s current visitor information says patient visitors can obtain meals, although community access and cafeteria seating may be restricted.

Useful arrival points

Patients, family members and visitors can contact the Office of Patient Experience at 628-206-5176 for navigation help, comments or concerns about the hospital experience.

ZSFG also provides spiritual-care services for patients and loved ones who would like emotional or faith-based support during a hospital stay.

For privacy concerns involving San Francisco Department of Public Health records, the DPH Office of Compliance and Privacy Affairs lists a toll-free contact at 855-729-6040.