Patient Experience

UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco have surveyed patients for more than 20 years. In fact, UCSF was one of the first medical centers in the country to conduct patient experience surveys.

Patient Safety and Quality

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UCSF uses patient survey results to evaluate the patient experience, track our progress to improve care and service, and identify areas of excellence and opportunities for improvement.

We commission a national survey firm, Press Ganey Associates, to survey patients in our hospitals and clinics. To assess our overall performance, we include a question that asks if patients would recommend UCSF to their friends and families. This question is from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey, a government-sponsored standardized survey of all adult hospitals in the United States.

In 2020, 86 percent of patients who returned a survey regarding care received in the hospital responded "definitely yes" when asked if they would recommend UCSF to their family and friends. This score puts us within the top 10 percent of hospital systems surveyed by Press Ganey.

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Quality & Safety of Patient Care

You have many choices of where to go for health care. We believe medical centers should be transparent about their performance so you can make informed decisions.

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections

One of the most common infections in the hospital is a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). These infections can lead to serious complications.

Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections

Central lines, also called central venous catheters, are tubes placed into a patient's large vein, often in the neck, chest, arm or groin. Find more info here.

Fall Prevention

Patients who have undergone surgery or who are taking pain medications may find it difficult to stand, walk or maintain their balance. Find more info here.

Hand Hygiene

To protect patients from infection, we require that patient care workers thoroughly clean their hands before and after caring for each patient.

Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries

A pressure injury, sometimes called a bedsore, is a wound in the skin or underlying tissue caused by pressure, friction and moisture. Find more info here.

Ventilator-Associated Events

Ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are complications or infections, including ventilator-associated pneumonia, caused by the use of a mechanical ventilator.

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Patient Resource

Patient Relations

We welcome feedback about your experience at UCSF Health. Find out how to contact us with comments, questions or concerns.

Patient Experience

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