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San Francisco's New Trauma Center Opens, Thanks to Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan

After nearly eight years in the making and a huge donation from Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, San Francisco general hospital’s new facility is fully operational.

About 160 patients were loaded on gurneys on Saturday for the 200-foot trek across a bridge connecting the old and new facilities. Building 25, the new center, is a nine-story structure with glass walls and a rooftop garden. Its addition will bring the number of emergency beds up to 58 from 27, according to a news release. 

The new hospital, located on Potrero Avenue, is named Pricilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, or ZSFG for short. The Facebook creator and his wife, a doctor, donated about $75 million for the construction project. Both were on hand for the ribbon cutting, along with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. 

Hospital employees say the new center holds a slew of features absent from the old 1970s-era building. 

“The operating rooms, we have 13 in this building, the old building had 10,” Chief Operating Officer Iman Nazeeri-Simmons told NBC Bay Area. “There are more critical care rooms, and the technology is very patient centered. It’s just overall a hospital for the 21st century for San Francisco.”

Terri Dentoni, the hospital’s nursing chief, said the staff are “very excited” for the move.

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