Save the Davies Warm Community Pool Program in San Francisco!

In May of 2020, warm pool therapy participants were shocked and saddened by the news that California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) was shutting down its only remaining warm aqua-therapy program located at the Ralph K. Davies Campus at 45 Castro Street in San Francisco. CPMC is a multi-hospital chain in San Francisco and the most profitable division of Sutter Health, a huge “not for profit” health delivery system headquartered in the Sacramento Area.

Located in the Duboce Triangle near the Castro, the program for years provided buoyant warm water therapy and guided exercise sessions, serving those in need of rehabilitation from an injury such as a stroke or head trauma, patients recovering from surgeries, and supporting pregnant women. The open to the public warm exercise classes provided critical healing and well-being support to countless elders and disabled community members experiencing chronic and painful conditions such as arthritis. Accessible by public transportation, paratransit van and taxi services, the location is uniquely suited to serve people with disabilities.

Many participants benefited from the guided aqua-therapy sessions for more than five to fifteen years, and all relied upon this community service to recover and thrive. Despite the great benefit to the community, and without notice or explanation, warm pool participants were told by form letter dated May 11, 2020, that the community pool program at the Davies campus was to be closed permanently. This was totally unexpected following representations by Sutter in March and April of 2020 that the pool was closed temporarily due to the health crisis of COVID-19 and assurances that we would get a call back when it was time to return.

Unable to find suitable therapeutic alternatives, in June of 2021, a letter to protest the closing of the warm rehabilitation pool and community aquatics exercise program was sent Ms. Sarah Krevans, the President and CEO Sutter Health Bay Area, and was hand delivered to hospital staff.  Given the urgent need to restore services, Ms. Krevans was asked to respond swiftly. Sutter Health has not responded, so we need you to sign this petition!

Sutter Health has a history of shutting down well-being services to the elderly and the disabled. In 2017, the warm pool at the Pacific Heights location was permanently closed and, recently, Sutter Health decided unilaterally to permanently close community-based therapeutic pool services at the Mack E. Mickelson Arthritis and Rehabilitation Center at the Mills-Peninsula Health Center. We urge you to also sign the online petition for keeping the Mickelson therapeutic pool open for public use.

Thanks for supporting our community! 

Warmly,

Alison C. Wright and Colette I. Hughes, Community Pool Participants

To get more involved, contact Colette I. Hughes: coletteihughes@gmail.com.