UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Helipad Community Meeting

A community meeting, held on July 30, 2015 at the UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, provided a forum for sharing recent sound measurement and analysis results from medical helicopter transports at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital helipad.  Approximately thirteen members of the public attended receiving information about the vital role the helipad performs at the hospitals, sound testing methodology and test results.  This was explained by Eugene Reindel, Vice President of HMMH, a national aeronautical sound expert.  These sound results set parameters for the Residential Sound Reduction Program (RSRP).  During the meeting there was discussion about the role of the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital compared to other facilities; and, how the transport team flies out of Oakland, to decrease the number of flights from the UCSF helipad.  There was also interest in understanding sound emissions from UCSF helicopter transports as compared with other urban sounds.  In addition, pilots responded to questions about how they expect these transport sounds to diminish as large vacant parcels in the area are developed. For more information, please click here.

UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay Community Meeting

Approximately 25 neighbors joined us at our May 13 community meeting to meet UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco Executive Director, Kim Scurr, and hear updates on our first few months of operations. Our team reported on concerns we heard from neighbors regarding ambulance transports, staff smoking and parking, and responded with information and solutions.  We also updated neighbors on helicopter transports and on the status of the Residential Sound Reduction Program for Helicopter Operations with information on recent sound contour testing. These test results are expected in June, and will be shared with the public. Dialogue was constructive and engaging. The agenda and presentation from this May 13, 2015 meeting are below. 

Medical  Center Community Meeting Agenda 5.13.15

Medical Center Community Meeting Presentation 5.13.15

From the beginning, the hospital planning process has involved members from the community, including the UCSF Community Advisory Group (CAG).  Over the years, we have hosted dozens of meetings for neighbors to provide input on the design of the hospital, and responded to community feedback by making major changes to the site plan and building design.  We also worked with the community to develop the Residental Sound Reduction Program for Helicopter Operations (RSRP) for neighbors who may be impacted by helicopter noise at the specified level (see below).

• Meeting presentations, agendas, summaries, and other documentation