When you arrive at the clinic, the staff person at the front desk will ask you some questions and complete your registration form. Our services are confidential but not anonymous. This means that you’ll be asked to provide your name and date of birth, as well as an address and phone number if you have them. This allows us to get in touch if you need treatment for a positive test result. You’ll also be asked why you came into the clinic and whether or not you have symptoms related to an STI.

A licensed clinician (nurse practitioner or physician) will talk with you in a private examination room. The clinician will ask you about why you came into the clinic and any symptoms you may have, and about your sexual practices and other behaviors that might put you at risk for getting an STI. The clinician will do a thorough STI exam and determine what testing is needed.

Not every patient will be tested for HIV and other STIs. It depends on your sexual practices and drug use. Getting tested at SF City Clinic may involve a blood draw, urine sample, and swabs (from the vagina, butt and/or throat).

If you need a vaccine or treatment for an STI, we will give it to you while you’re at the clinic. Sometimes you will be given a prescription that you can fill at a pharmacy. We will help you figure out how to get your prescription for PEP, PrEP, or doxy-PEP medications filled at no or minimal cost, regardless of insurance status.

If you are diagnosed with certain STIs (for example, syphilis or HIV), you will talk with a counselor. The counselor will answer any questions you have, will make sure you receive treatment, and will talk with you about how you can ensure that your sex partners are tested and treated. 

City Clinic does not currently charge patients for services. You may need to pay for medications if we are unable to provide medications for the services you receive that day.

You should never receive a bill from City Clinic.

However, if you do receive one in error, you will never be held liable for any charges incurred at City Clinic. If you receive a statement indicating you owe money for those services, please contact:

SF Health Network Customer Service Department

Ways to contact:

• Phone: 628-206-8448
• Email: SFHNPatientFinancialServices@sfdph.org
• MyChart patient portal messaging

Business hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm.

At San Francisco City Clinic, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information.

Your Information and records are ALWAYS confidential

You should feel confident that all communications and records pertaining to care provided is CONFIDENTIAL. Written permission shall be obtained before the medical records can be made available to anyone not directly concerned with YOUR medical care.

All Department of Public Health (DPH)/ San Francisco City Clinic staff are provided training and sign an oath to keep confidential all information having to do with our patients. The oath specifically states that staff will not divulge any information about patients to unauthorized persons.

Through training and accountability/auditing, all DPH staff understands that the unauthorized release of information will result in disciplinary action or termination of their employment with the City and County of San Francisco.  DPH has a very robust Privacy and Compliance program; your privacy is extremely important to all of us.

You may request your records to be shared with others that are not part of your DPH treatment team by submitting a Department of Public Health Authorization to Disclose Health Information form.

DPH Notice of Privacy Practices

• Summary DPH Notice of HIPAA Privacy Practices
• Full DPH Notice of HIPAA Privacy Practices

Photo Disclaimer

This site makes use of licensed stock photography. All photography is for illustrative purposes only and all persons depicted are models.

How we use your information

Your information may be used for the following purposes:

• To provide and improve our services
• To communicate with you regarding appointments and services
• To comply with legal obligations

Information sharing

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We may share your information with:

• Service providers who assist us in operating our clinic and website
• Authorities, when required by law

Links

San Francisco City Clinic uses link and search capabilities to navigate publicly available information from dozens of agencies and sources that are not part of San Francisco City Clinic website and over whom San Francisco City Clinic exercises no control.

The privacy policies and procedures described here do not necessarily apply to those sites.

We suggest contacting these sites directly for information on their data collection and distribution policies.

Mobile Terms & Use

• There is no fee from San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) to receive text messages. Message and data rates may apply - this can be checked with your mobile service provider. Charges are billed and payable to your mobile service provider or deducted from your prepaid account. Consent is not a requirement for purchase.
• Data obtained from you in connection with this SMS service may include your mobile phone number, your carrier’s name and the date, time and content of your messages. We may use this information to contact you and provide the services you request from us. Alerts sent via SMS may not be delivered if the mobile phone is not in range of a transmission site, or if sufficient network capacity is not available at a particular time. Even within a coverage area, factors beyond the control of the wireless operator may interfere with message delivery, including the customer’s equipment, terrain, proximity to buildings, foliage, and weather. Wireless operators do not guarantee message delivery and will not be held liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
• DPH will not be liable for any delays in the receipt of any SMS message as delivery is subject to effective transmission from your network operator.
• By subscribing to SFDPH alerts, the user consents to receive automated appointment reminders & testing resources via text messages from 21201. Recurring messages. Message & data rates may apply.
• If you have any questions, text HELP to 21201 or contact us at sfccpatientservices.dph@sfdph.org. To stop receiving messages, text STOP to 21201.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and the effective date will be updated accordingly.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy practices, please contact us at:

San Francisco City Clinic

• Phone: 628-217-6600

sf.gov/cityclinic is the website for the San Francisco City Clinic, which focuses on sexual health services. It provides information on various topics related to sexual health, including STI testing and treatment, HIV prevention and care, contraception, and general reproductive health. The clinic offers resources for both individuals and the community, promoting sexual health education and access to healthcare services in San Francisco.

If you need assistance in a language other than English, we can provide translation services. Please feel free to request translated content or assistance, and we will be happy to help you.

If you need content in another language or wish to report any issues accessing our information, please contact us:

• Phone: 628-217-6600