San Francisco VA Medical Center facts for kids
The San Francisco VA Medical Center, often called the SFVAMC, is a special hospital for military veterans. It is located in San Francisco, California. Veterans are people who have served in the armed forces.
The main hospital building is found at 42nd Avenue and Clement Street. It is in the Richmond District. This area is near the Golden Gate and the San Francisco Presidio. The hospital is surrounded by the beautiful Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
The SFVAMC has a very large research program. In 2015, they spent over $90 million on research. This makes it the biggest research program in the Veterans Health Administration. The hospital also helps teach new doctors. It works with the UCSF School of Medicine.
Contents
History of the SFVAMC
The San Francisco VA Medical Center first opened its doors in 1934. Since then, it has grown to help many veterans.
The SFVAMC has also opened smaller clinics in different communities. These clinics make it easier for veterans to get care closer to home.
Community Clinics
- San Francisco VA Downtown Clinic: This clinic offers basic medical care. It also helps homeless veterans and provides mental health services.
- Clearlake VA Clinic: Located in Clearlake.
- Eureka VA Clinic: Found in Eureka.
- San Bruno VA Clinic: Located in San Bruno.
- Santa Rosa VA Clinic: Found in Santa Rosa.
- Ukiah VA Clinic: Located in Ukiah.
Special Achievements
The SFVAMC is known for being excellent in several areas of medical care. These are called "National Centers of Excellence."
Centers of Excellence
- Epilepsy Treatment: Helping people who have seizures.
- Cardiac Surgery: Performing heart operations.
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Supporting veterans dealing with stress after difficult experiences.
- HIV Care: Providing treatment for HIV.
- Renal Dialysis: Offering kidney treatment.
The SFVAMC also has a special program called "Telephone Linked Care." This program helps patients manage their health over the phone. It is recognized for its high quality by an organization called URAC.
Working with Partners
The SFVAMC works closely with other groups to provide the best care.
Partnership with UCSF
The hospital has worked with the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine (UCSF) for over 50 years. All the doctors at SFVAMC are also part of the UCSF School of Medicine. This means veterans get care from highly skilled medical professionals.
Research Organization
The Northern California Institute of Research and Education is a special group that does medical research. It is located right on the SFVAMC grounds. This group helps find new ways to treat illnesses and improve health.
Support for Student Veterans
The City College of San Francisco and the SFVAMC have teamed up. They created a health office on the college campus. This office helps students who are veterans and using their G.I. Bill benefits. The G.I. Bill helps veterans pay for college. This partnership helps young veterans get the healthcare they need while studying.
