San Francisco’s New Chinese Hospital Nears Completion

The new 8-storey Chinese Hospital will have increased space for patient care, improved privacy, and advanced medical technology to meet rising demand for services. Among the service to be provided are an expanded emergency treatment center, expanded cardiopulmonary unit, a new diagnostic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) department, two additional operating rooms, 44 private acute care patient rooms, 6 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, a skilled nursing unit with 23 Beds, and expanded pharmacy services.

The new hospital will stand at the location of the original 1925 building, which was demolished to make room for the new structure. The hospital is currently operating in an annex that opened in 1979 to serve the healthcare needs of the Chinese community in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, but has since become overcrowded. The Chinese hospital remains the only Chinese operated and governed independent hospital in North America.

To finance the new hospital, a USD 160 million capital campaign was launched to help build the replacement facility and enable Chinese Hospital to enhance services, expand patient floor space, and invest in new innovative equipment throughout the hospital. The new building will use construction materials, streetscaping, and open space designs that blend with the cultural context of Chinatown and comply with California's new seismic safety standards.

“We need your help to rebuild and strengthen our services for you, your family, friends, and neighbors and provide the highest quality of care. You don’t have to be a doctor to save lives,” said Linda Schumacher, chief operating officer of Chinese Hospital. “The success of this project requires a partnership between Chinese Hospital and the community. The question should not be whether or not to participate, but at what level you can help to support the essential healthcare needs of our community.”

Chinese Hospital was founded by 15 Chinatown community organizations to offer medical services designed around the language and culture of their patients, who spoke little or no English. Martial arts hero Bruce Lee was born there in 1940. Since 15,000 residents live within the 20-square-block Chinatown area, the technically complex and logistically challenging project has required keeping neighbors and local vendors at the bustling fish and produce markets abreast of construction activities.

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