In 1905, five physicians founded Saint Francis Memorial Hospital to provide the people of San Francisco with the most "up-to-date, modern hospital west of Chicago." For the past 105 years, as medical care advanced, the hospital continued to transform itself to sustain our founders’ vision. Named for the City it serves, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital has a tradition of delivering high-quality, compassionate care to an ever changing and growing community.
Just one year after opening its doors, the original Saint Francis Hospital was destroyed by the fire that followed the 1906 earthquake. Three weeks later, the staff temporarily relocated the hospital to a physician’s family home.
Rebuilding after the 1906 earthquake and fire, a new Saint Francis Hospital opened at Bush and Hyde; it was 100% occupied within ten days of opening. In 1916, the Board of Directors purchased property on Bush Street and constructed a one-story ward. Five years later, the hospital added another 200 beds. The medical staff now numbered 200 and the hospital admitted 8,500 patients each year.
In the late 1940’s, physician pioneers created a new Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery clinic and residency program at Saint Francis. In 1955, a four-bed ward was created for the exclusive care and treatment of burn victims. Ten years later, this would become the nationally-recognized Saint Francis Bothin Burn Center. The present twelve-story tower to house private patient rooms, nursing and ancillary services was built and dedicated in the 1970’s. The tower was hailed as the most advanced healthcare facility in San Francisco. The Pierotti Pavilion, the two-story building adjacent to the main tower, was dedicated in the spring of 1980, named in honor of friends and benefactors, Roland and Alice Pierotti. The Pierotti Pavilion housed the hospital’s growing outpatient services.
Throughout Saint Francis Hospital’s history, the excellent staff has shared a commitment to providing high-quality and personalized service that is unsurpassed in today’s competitive health care environment.
Today, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital is a state-of-the-art, 200-bed acute care facility fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Saint Francis serves patients from the richly diverse neighborhoods of Nob Hill, the Tenderloin, Chinatown, Downtown, Russian Hill and the Financial District. Patients are referred to Saint Francis’ Centers of Excellence from throughout the Bay Area. No patient is turned away.