Saint Francis Memorial Hospital Celebrates New Bothin Burn Center

Now the largest burn unit in Northern California, the Burn Center currently treats more than 500 burn victims every year. Patients are triaged from throughout the greater Bay Area, Northern California, and the western United States.

 

Dignity Health Saint Francis Memorial Hospital is proud to announce the opening of its new Bothin Burn Center.

“The Bothin Burn Center has served as an immense resource for our region and a lifeline to thousands of patients since it first opened nearly 50 years ago,” said David Klein, MD, president of Saint Francis Memorial Hospital. “We are proud to continue this legacy of delivering the highest quality care for burn victims and their loved ones in a new cutting-edge space.”

The new Burn Center occupies the entire 5th floor of the main hospital, with the former space now being used to expand an adjacent outpatient burn clinic. It features the most advanced medical technology and equipment, including a dedicated surgical suite, state-of-the-art life support, monitoring equipment, and ultrasonic hydrotherapy for bathing wounds. The bed count increased from 10 to 16, and the treatment rooms are more spacious for patient comfort and care. The Burn Center also has a dedicated gym, therapy treatment room, and conference room. 

Much thought went into creating a new space that is engaging and comforting to the approximately 70 children treated at the Burn Center each year. In addition to dedicated pediatric treatment rooms, there is a play area complete with gaming consoles and iPads.

Funding for the Bothin Burn Center expansion was created through a campaign lead by the Saint Francis Foundation. The Foundation raised nearly $5 million through the generous contributions of individuals such as former patient Lisa Nash and her husband Michael.

“The angels were not looking after me during the explosion, but they were afterward,” Lisa said of her experience as a patient after she was severely burned in an accident in downtown San Francisco. She credits her good health today and recovery to the doctors and staff of the Bothin Burn Center, who not only cared for her, but her entire family throughout the healing process. The couple made possible the Nash Family Day Room, which is equipped with a sound system, media outlets, and serves as a relaxation area for both patients and visitors to enjoy.

Additional contributions were provided by The Bothin Foundation, Brewster West Foundation, The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation, HEDCO Foundation, The Herbst Foundation, Intero Foundation, William G. Irwin Charity Foundation, Witter Kistler Philanthropy Fund, and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Bothin Burn Center was the first burn unit in the Bay Area to be verified by the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons, Trauma Division. The team of burn experts includes plastic surgeons, registered nurses, physical and occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, dietitians, psychiatrists, case managers, pharmacists and art and play therapists. All personnel are highly trained to meet the complex needs of burn patients from critical care through rehabilitation.

About Saint Francis Memorial Hospital

Dignity Health Saint Francis Memorial Hospital is an accredited, not-for-profit community hospital that has been providing exceptional healthcare in San Francisco for more than 100 years. Located atop Nob Hill, near downtown San Francisco, Saint Francis is home to the Bothin Burn Center, the largest in Northern California, the Center for Sports Medicine, and the Saint Francis Orthopedic Institute. With its close proximity to downtown San Francisco, Saint Francis also specializes in Occupational Health and Emergency Medicine. Saint Francis has been designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine and Hip/Knee Replacement Surgery and is a Certified Stroke Center by the Joint Commission.