Customer Service
Patient Advocates
Our Patient Advocate program seeks to personally give you and your family the security of knowing someone is available to focus on your individual concerns and rights as a patient. We work directly with all departments on your behalf and can address your questions, problems or special needs quicker. If you, or a Veteran you care for has not been able to resolve important issues related to VA through other means of communications, please contact one of our highly-skilled patient advocates listed below who will be eager to help you with your concern in a timely manner.
Janice Savengrith
Patient Advocate
(415) 221-4810; ext. 3486
Alternatively, you may contact us through e-mail using the VA National Inquiry Routing & Information System (IRIS).
Additional Contacts
The San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC) strives to always provide the highest quality of care to the Veterans of our nation. We recognize there may be times when a patient or family member has a particular issue, policy, decision, or patient safety concern. We encourage you to first speak with your treatment team or our department managers as their duty is to ensure you get the best care possible. The best time to let us know of any concern or question is at the time it happens - so we can resolve it as quickly as possible. We have established several programs to assist you.
For a listing of additional contacts, please visit our phone directory.
Social Work Service
Social Workers are available in both the inpatient and outpatient settings to help you and your family with problems caused by your illness or hospitalization or with problems that may delay your recovery. Social Workers provide information and assistance with discharge planning, rehabilitation, hospice care, and community services you may need as an outpatient.
Social Workers provide counseling about financial benefits and vocational rehabilitation. In addition, they provide therapy/counseling for psychiatric issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance abuse, marital and family problems, and adjustment to illness and disability.
You can contact a Social Worker by asking your inpatient or clinic doctor or nurse to make a referral, by calling (415) 750-2044, or by stopping by the Social Work Service office in Building 2, Ground Floor, Room 161.
Returning Combat Veterans
If you have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation New Dawn, now is the time to take advantage of the benefits you have earned. Contact our OEF/OIF/OND Program Office to learn more. Points of contact include: Carrie Bancroft, LCSW, Program Manager, 415-221-4810 x4405 or Spence Casey, LCSW, Case Manager, 415-221-4810 x2647.
Chaplain Service
Each day there is Chaplain coverage at the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC) from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Chaplains may be contacted during work day hours by calling:
Protestant Chaplains: 415-221-4810 x4505, x3556, or x6336.
Catholic Chaplains: 415-221-4810 x6335.
During off duty hours: Contact the Chaplain Supervisor by pager at 415-219-0129. If that Chaplain is not able to be reached, contact pager number 415-280-5193. Also the SFVAMC operators and ED administrative officers have information on how to reach the Chaplains during off duty hours.
The Chapel and Chaplain Service offices are located in Building 7, 2nd Floor, above the Canteen and Voluntary Service.
The schedule of worship services at SFVAMC is as follows:
Catholic Mass:
- Weekdays: 11:30 a.m. (Chapel)
- Saturdays: 3:30 p.m. (CLC first floor dining room)
- Sundays: 11 a.m. (Chapel)
Protestant Worship
- Sunday: 10 a.m. (Chapel)
- Sundays: 11:15 a.m. (CLC first floor dining room)
Call the Chaplain Service at 415-221-4810 x4505 for information on religious/spiritual services for other faith groups.
Survey of Healthcare Experience of Patients
You may be contacted for feedback about your stay shortly after your discharge. Your comments will help us to continue to meet our goal of providing quality health care to our veteran patients and family. It is important that we have your correct phone number at time of discharge, especially if you will not be going to your own home.
