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AIDS Admissions at San Francisco Hospitals

Hughes

Where do you admit patients?

Campbell

The California Pacific Medical Center [PMC], and some at St. Francis [Memorial Hospital]. The bulk at California Pacific.

Hughes

What was the attitude of San Francisco hospitals towards taking on AIDS patients? Were there hospitals that were receptive and others that were not?

Campbell

In my experience, they've all been very receptive. I don't know if that's the general rule outside of the Bay Area. It just happened that the hospitals I was dealing with were--PMC was very good, and so was St. Francis, and I think I had a couple of patients at Ralph K. Davies [Medical Center] and a couple at UC Moffitt [Hospital]. All were very geared up for it. It was no hardship. The availability of consults was always excellent. I always felt that we were very much supported by everybody in the medical community in San Francisco.

Hughes

When did you refer patients to UC?

Campbell

The first couple of AIDS patients that I had in 1982-1983 went to UC. I put them in UC because it seemed like they might have known a little bit more about it at that point. The housestaff was very much aware of what to do.

Hughes

But then it began to even out, from what you're saying. Other hospitals became adept as well?

Campbell

Oh, yes.

Hughes

Do I conclude that there isn't just one AIDS hospital in San Francisco; there are many places with AIDS services?

Campbell

Oh, yes.

Hughes

I'm talking about the early days.

Campbell

I think early on, they were all very aware of AIDS. There were no hospitals that I would single out as places never to send somebody.