UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay stands as a beacon of hope and advanced medical care for children, women, and cancer patients. More than just a hospital, it’s designed as an invaluable resource, offering not only groundbreaking treatments but also a comprehensive range of amenities to support patients and their families throughout their healthcare journey. The dedicated team of Ucsf Mission Bay Doctors are at the heart of this mission, committed to providing exceptional care within a state-of-the-art facility meticulously crafted to ease stress and promote well-being.
From the moment visitors step through the doors, they are greeted by an environment designed to address their personal needs and foster a sense of calm. Recognizing the crucial role of a strong support network in the healing process, UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay goes beyond treating just the patient. It embraces a holistic approach, ensuring that families and loved ones also feel supported and cared for.
Michael Towne, UCSF Child Life Services Manager, perfectly encapsulates this philosophy: “We want our health care to not only fix problems, but to empower individuals and their families as well. UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay will take a holistic and humanistic approach and recognizes that no one should have to go through hospitalization without the support network that comes along with that person.” This patient-centered approach is a testament to the dedication of ucsf mission bay doctors and the entire medical staff.
Finding Moments of Peace and Reflection
Understanding the stressful nature of hospital visits, UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay has thoughtfully integrated “away zones” throughout the complex. These internal sanctuaries provide visitors with spaces to decompress, gather their thoughts, and simply breathe.
Within the women’s and cancer hospitals, personal meditation rooms offer tranquil retreats. These rooms are intentionally decorated with nature-inspired elements and equipped with soothing sound systems, creating a calming atmosphere. For those seeking fresh air and panoramic views, open-air sky terraces provide an opportunity to step outside without leaving the patient care unit, offering a moment of respite and connection with the surrounding cityscape of San Francisco. Even within the children’s hospital units, private alcoves are strategically placed to allow parents and caregivers to take a momentary step back, when needed, ensuring they too have opportunities for quiet reflection amidst the demanding environment.
Spaces designed for connection and community are equally important. Two-story sky lobbies in the adult hospitals offer expansive westward views, creating a sense of openness and tranquility. These lobbies also house the Art for Recovery program and the patient resource library, fostering both creative expression and access to valuable information. In the children’s hospital, family lounges abound, including the heartwarming “Room that Hugs You,” a spacious area near the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit designed to provide comfort and support to siblings and family members during challenging times.
Image: Holly Houston, director of communications at UCSF Mission Bay, showcasing a model ICU room designed for family comfort, highlighting convertible furniture that serves as a bed.
The renowned Child Life Services program at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, already exceptional in its provision of resources and support to children and families navigating illness and treatment, is set to expand and thrive in this new setting. Dedicated Child Life spaces, including playrooms, teen lounges, and creative arts studios, cater specifically to patients’ siblings and other family members, recognizing their unique needs during hospitalization. Furthermore, an on-site school room, fully accredited by the San Francisco Unified School District, ensures that school-aged siblings of patients can maintain their education uninterrupted during a family member’s hospital stay, minimizing disruption to their lives.
A Truly Healing Environment
Extensive healing gardens, encompassing over four acres of verdant space, further enhance the restorative environment for families and loved ones. Ten ground-level and rooftop gardens are strategically located throughout the complex, each designed to cater to the specific needs of different patient groups and their support networks. These gardens offer vital connections to nature, proven to have therapeutic benefits and promote emotional well-being.
Centrally located between the children’s and adult hospitals, a serene meditation garden, adorned with lush plantings and calming art, is accessible to all, around the clock. Adjacent to this garden are a peaceful, nondenominational chapel and the chaplain’s office, creating a dedicated area for spiritual reflection and support.
Lynn Befu, interiors lead at Stantec, the architecture firm behind the hospital project, emphasizes the dedication to visitor well-being: “We worked very hard to create these respite areas, with the idea in mind that there ought to be somewhere for everyone who visits the medical center and a service to answer every need.” This commitment reflects the overarching goal of ucsf mission bay doctors and staff to provide holistic care that extends beyond medical treatment.
The medical center also boasts a remarkable art collection, featuring large-scale commissioned pieces and smaller exhibits strategically placed throughout the facility. These artworks are carefully selected to evoke positive emotions and create a creatively stimulating environment. Michael Towne, who also serves on the UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay’s Art Committee, explains the thoughtful curation process: “Hospitals have the lofty task of selecting artwork that is diverse and broadly appealing without being too watered down. The nature of art is to be provocative, and when choosing pieces for a hospital environment, you want them to be provocative in terms of healing, growth and inspiration. In essence, this is what we are aiming to achieve with every one of our visitor programs.”
Image: Expansive healing gardens at UCSF Mission Bay Medical Center, providing over four acres of green space for families and loved ones to connect with nature and find tranquility.
Simplifying Basic Needs for Visitors
The meticulous attention to the visitor experience at UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay is apparent from the moment of arrival. Parking is designed for ease and convenience, offering options such as a multilevel garage, an open lot, and valet service. Clear and comprehensive signage ensures that visitors can navigate the complex effortlessly, minimizing stress during what can already be an anxious time.
“When a family member comes in and they are in a stressful situation, parking should be absolutely straightforward. You should park, find your way and have it be a non-issue,” Befu notes, highlighting the commitment to reducing logistical burdens for visitors.
Overnight accommodations are thoughtfully considered, with multiple options to suit varying needs. Every acute and intensive care room within the 289-bed hospital complex is designed with ample space for family members to stay overnight, featuring convertible furniture that easily transforms into a bed. For parents of newborns in the Intensive Care Nursery, specialized rooms are available within the unit, allowing families a valuable “trial run” overnight stay with their infants before discharge. The in-hospital Ronald McDonald House provides short-term crisis accommodation, equipped with rooms, showers, a kitchen, and a family room. Nearby Family House offers longer-term housing for families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses requiring extended hospital stays.
Dining options at UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay are diverse and cater to various tastes and dietary needs. A full-service café, located on the first floor, offers both indoor and outdoor seating, along with a dedicated children’s area. The menu features a wide array of choices, including a daily entrée station with comfort food prepared fresh, made-to-order items like omelets and paninis, pasta and rice bowls, and a fresh market salad bar.
Image: A convenience store within UCSF Mission Bay Medical Center, offering coffee, snacks, and sandwiches for visitors and staff.
Dan Henroid, director of nutrition and food services for UCSF Medical Center, emphasizes the commitment to quality and healthy options: “We will continue to extend the commitment we started at the Parnassus campus to provide customers with fresh food prepared daily from sustainable and local sources. We also will continue to highlight healthy foods, making it easy for customers to make informed choices.” Complementing the café, two convenience stores, located near the cafeteria and in the outpatient building lobby, offer coffee, espresso, sandwiches, and snack items for quick and easy access. For added convenience, on-demand room service dining is available for patients and visitors from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and vending and ATM machines are conveniently located near the main café for late-night needs.
UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, with its dedicated ucsf mission bay doctors and thoughtfully designed facilities, represents a new paradigm in patient care. It’s a place where medical excellence is seamlessly integrated with a deep commitment to the well-being of patients and their families, creating a truly healing and supportive environment.
