Nurses from St. Francis and St. Mary's voice concerns over UCSF acquisition plans

Nurses from St. Francis and St. Mary's Hospitals voiced urgent concerns at a recent San Francisco County meeting regarding UCSF's planned acquisition of their facilities. Albina Guerrero, a registered nurse with 38 years at St. Francis, emphasized that the transition could severely impact patient care, particularly for the city's homeless population, which relies heavily on these hospitals. She pointed out that UCSF has historically provided less than 5% of care to this vulnerable group, raising fears of a service vacuum if St. Francis and St. Mary's are downsized.

Guerrero highlighted the lack of concrete commitments from UCSF, stating that nurses and the community need clarity on how the acquisition will proceed to ensure the hospitals remain viable. She recalled past transitions that led to diminished services, stressing the importance of maintaining local access to care for patients, especially those in underserved areas like the Tenderloin.

Following Guerrero, Amy Preble, an ICU nurse at St. Mary's, echoed similar sentiments about the lack of transparency from UCSF. She expressed frustration over feeling excluded from discussions about the future of their hospitals, noting that staff are left in the dark about the new ownership structure and its implications. Preble's remarks underscored the anxiety among healthcare workers about the potential changes and the need for more engagement from UCSF to ensure the continued success of these community hospitals.

The meeting highlighted a critical moment for San Francisco's healthcare landscape, as the future of essential services hangs in the balance amid ongoing discussions about hospital acquisitions. The nurses' call for transparency and commitment from UCSF reflects broader concerns about maintaining quality care for the city's most vulnerable populations.