With many hospitals being stretched to capacity due to COVID-19, health officials in San Francisco are preparing to open a new low acuity medical facility in order to free up hospital beds and make room for coronavirus patients.

1167 Gorgas Ave Popup Hospital, Felton Institute

Felton Institute will provide mental health support and assessments within the “pop-up hospital”. The temporary health center is designed to provide medical care for people who have been recently hospitalized and need short term care.

The site will not serve any people diagnosed with COVID-19. It will be able to accommodate an initial group of 25 patients and eventually expand to serve as many as 100 patients. Felton Institute is closely working with city and county officials by staffing health workers and behavioral health specialists at the centers.

1167 Gorgas Ave Popup Hospital, Felton Institute

1167 Gorgas Ave Popup Hospital, Felton Institute

The goal of the service is that non-COVID-19 medical patients with behavioral issues can keep their hospital beds and continue receiving treatment. Felton will help identify and intervene with patients whose behaviors could lead to decompensation and forced removal from the hospital.

To help support the new temporary hospital site, as well as other programs, Felton Institute welcomes donations of personal protective equipment. Needed supplies include unused N95 respirators, disposable gloves, as well as unopened containers of hand sanitizer and disinfectants. To coordinate a donation, please contact Jturner@felton.org.


About Felton Institute: Founded in 1889, Felton Institute responds to human needs by providing cutting edge, evidence-based mental health and social services that transform lives. Felton Institute is a tax-exempt organization registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit under EIN 94-1156530.

Offering more than 50 acclaimed and honored programs that address homelessness, mental health, prenatal, adolescent, adult and senior needs, Felton Institute provides services in San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Marin, and Monterey counties.

Felton is named for its social services pioneer and executive director Dr. Katharine “Kitty” Felton who was called the ”conscience of San Francisco” and was committed to ensuring that children and families in crisis have access to social services and resources in order to help them build upon their inherent strengths and develop self-sufficiency. www.felton.org