UCSF Benioff Children’s Hosp. San: Pediatric Care & Info

Referral information for doctors

What to bring to a specialty appointment

• Photo identification for the parent/guardian when requested.
• Health-insurance card.
• Insurance authorization if required.
• Referral if required.
• Relevant test results or outside imaging.
• Medication list including doses.
• List of allergies.
• Questions you want to discuss.

UCSF describes the San Francisco pediatric Emergency Department as the city’s freestanding children’s emergency department. It treats infants, children and adolescents with serious illnesses and injuries.

Emergency resources

• Fellowship-trained pediatric emergency physicians.
• Pediatric emergency nursing staff.
• Child Life specialists.
• Access to more than 150 pediatric specialists.
• Critical medical and surgical divisions on call at all times.
• Pediatric imaging and diagnostic support.
• Rooftop helipad and air-transport access for critically ill patients.

Business day before surgery

UCSF’s current pediatric surgical guide says a nurse calls on the business day before surgery with the child’s arrival time and fasting instructions.

Call before surgery if your child becomes sick

Contact the surgeon and Pediatric Prepare Clinic if your child develops fever, respiratory symptoms, flu-like symptoms, infection or another significant illness.

What the parent or guardian should bring

• Photo identification.
• Insurance card.
• Guardianship/adoption documents if the accompanying adult is not the biological parent and proof is required.
• Complete medication and supplement list.
• Medication-allergy list.
• Comfort items for the child.
• Comfortable clothing for discharge.

Surgery visitors

UCSF’s current San Francisco surgery guide allows two healthy adult visitors age 18 or older in the surgical waiting and pre-operative areas. The recovery area normally does not permit visitors except for approved special-needs accommodations.

Typical immediate post-anesthesia recovery is approximately 60 to 90 minutes, although recovery time differs for every patient.

Personalized estimate

Hospital standard-charge file

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals publishes machine-readable standard-charge data for the San Francisco hospital. UCSF’s current transparency page says the file was updated in April 2026.

The file can contain gross charges, self-pay prices and payer-specific negotiated charges, but these are not automatically what an insured family will pay.

Why your actual bill differs

• Your insurance network.
• Deductible.
• Copay.
• Coinsurance.
• Exact procedure or service.
• Tests and imaging.
• Medications and supplies.
• Length of stay.
• Professional physician charges.
• Additional specialists or procedures.

UCSF contracts with many commercial and government plans, but participation varies by exact product. Some HMO and Medi-Cal plans require a referral or prior authorization before specialty hospital care.

Examples from UCSF’s current San Francisco insurance list

UCSF states that families with household income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level are generally eligible for 100% financial assistance when program requirements are met.

Current UCSF examples for 100% assistance

Larger households use higher thresholds. Eligibility rules can change, so families should use UCSF’s current application rather than relying only on the table above.

How to apply

1. Apply through UCSF MyChart for the fastest digital process, or
2. Complete the official paper financial-assistance application.
3. Provide requested proof of income.
4. Contact Patient Financial Services if you need help.

Best patient parking

Valet parking

Valet is available at 1825 Fourth St. in front of the Ron Conway Family Gateway Medical Building. UCSF does not charge an additional valet fee; normal parking charges apply.

Current campus transportation information lists patient valet Monday-Friday, with drop-off from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and pickup available until 10 p.m.

Rideshare drop-off

UCSF’s current pediatric surgery instructions identify a rideshare drop-off directly in front of the children’s hospital at 1975 Fourth St.

Mission Bay can be reached without a car.

• MUNI T Third Street: serves the Mission Bay area.
• MUNI 22 Fillmore: serves nearby Fourth/16th Street stops.
• MUNI 55 16th Street: useful for Mission Bay connections.
• Caltrain: Mission Bay is accessible via connections/shuttles from the station area.
• 16th Street BART: UCSF provides shuttle connections.
• UCSF shuttles: free service links Mission Bay with other UCSF campuses.

Primary caregivers

• Two primary caregivers may be placed on the patient’s visitor list.
• When space allows, both primary caregivers may remain at bedside at any time.
• Siblings or other loved ones may visit during visiting hours with approval from the care team.

Visitor screening

UCSF uses weapons-detection screening systems at entrances to select facilities. Security and Guest Services staff are available to direct families.

Information desk

General pediatric patient rooms at the San Francisco children’s hospital are single occupancy and designed to accommodate a patient plus a parent or guardian.

Room features

• Large windows and natural light.
• High-speed Wi-Fi.
• Family area.
• Locking storage cabinet.
• Sleeper sofa.
• Oneview media screen.
• Bedside tablet for games.

Most patient rooms can accommodate one overnight guest. Family lounges, kitchens, showers, work areas and laundry resources are also available.

Pediatric patient room service

Pediatric patients can choose meals from the daily menu and order to the bedside. Room service is free for pediatric patients, new mothers and breastfeeding mothers. Parents and visitors may order meals for a fee.

Mission Bay dining

UCSF’s current Mission Bay pharmacy is in the Bayfront Medical Building, 520 Illinois St., D1201, San Francisco, CA 94158. It serves UCSF patients and the public, including children.

Services

• Prescription medications.
• Over-the-counter medications.
• Pediatric medication support.
• Medication consultations.
• Free medication delivery.
• Compounded medications at Mission Bay when needed.
• Refill management through MyChart.

Vaccination hours

Vaccinations are currently offered Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.. MyChart scheduling is available, and walk-ins may be accepted with a wait.

MyChart records

Pediatric records that are already available electronically can be downloaded from MyChart as PDFs without a fee.

Children under 12

A parent or guardian creates their own UCSF MyChart account and requests family proxy access through:

Menu → Sharing → Proxy Center → Request Family Access

UCSF says approval commonly appears in MyChart within 1 to 3 days.

Ages 12 to 17

Adolescents can have their own MyChart account. Parent/guardian proxy access requires the adolescent’s authorization and is limited for legally protected sensitive services.

Records not visible in MyChart

A formal MyChart request can be made through:

Menu → Sharing Hub → Yourself → Request a copy

UCSF says these requests may take up to 14 days to process.

UCSF MyChart can be used for many routine administrative tasks without calling the hospital.

Child-focused services

• Child Life specialists.
• Play and activity rooms.
• Art therapy.
• Music therapy.
• School program.
• Individual tutoring and play.
• Family Resource Center.
• Parent support activities.
• Spiritual care.

Accessibility

• Accessible parking.
• Accessible bathrooms.
• Elevator access.
• TTY service.
• Assistive listening devices.
• CART real-time transcription by request.
• American Sign Language interpretation.

Families traveling from outside the Bay Area can ask their assigned social worker about short-term accommodations.

Nancy & Stephen Grand Family House

The Grand Family House provides free or low-cost housing to eligible families whose children are receiving care at the San Francisco hospital.

The facility is only a few blocks from the Mission Bay hospital and provides private family rooms and shared family amenities.

UCSF can also provide information about nearby hotels and short-term apartment rentals.

Mission Bay Gift Shop

Mail to a patient

If you do not know the patient’s room phone number, call 415-476-1000 and ask the operator to connect you.