Alvarado Health Center Offers Healthcare Access for Medi-Cal Residents

Los Angeles, CA – Today Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors member Hilda L. Solis and Los Angeles County Health Services hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony and resource fair to celebrate the grand opening of the new Alvarado Health Center.

“This community of Westlake sadly has a history of being medically underserved,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District. “At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Westlake, unfortunately, had one of the highest death rates of any community in the County of Los Angeles. So many of the residents here are essential workers, who worked in critical fields such as health care, food service, and public transportation. It was imperative that this community had direct access to quality care. To that end, I prioritized ensuring the County’s safety-net services were also reaching this area, including the creation of a new clinic for essential services. I am proud to see this new health hub launch today for a community that is in desperate need of one.”

The Alvarado Health Center is the newest Department of Health Services facility. It will serve as a primary care provider for Medi-Cal patients in the Westlake District and surrounding neighborhoods. Services include behavioral health intervention, addiction treatment, cervical cancer screenings, blood work and much more. The center is fully staffed and already serving patients in English, Spanish and Korean.

Local area residents are enjoying the benefits of having health services closer to home. Sandra Cruz, a patient of the Department of Health Services said, “I used to have to take the bus every time I had to go to the doctor, and it would take me 30 minutes to travel one way. I am so happy that I can walk to my appointments, it is not even 5-minutes away. I get to see my doctor more often.”

Westlake District is the second most populous community in Los Angeles County, opening a facility in such a heavily populated, low-income neighborhood is one way to help remove healthcare barriers. Dr. Christina Ghaly, Director of the Department of Health Services said, “Part of our goal at the Department of Health Services is to optimize patient experience. The inauguration of the Alvarado Health Center in the Westlake District provides accessibility to healthcare which is an important determinants of quality of life. I am delighted to be part of something that helps enhance the lives of thousands of people by bringing health services closer to their communities.”

The Alvarado Health Center is located at:

Alvarado Health Center

2200 West, 3^rd St., 4^th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90057

(213) 302-3600

The Alvarado Health Center is part of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS). It is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. Through its integrated system over 25 health centers and four hospitals – and expanded network of community partner clinics – DHS annually provides direct care for over 750,000 unique patients, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual budget of over $6 billion. For additional information regarding DHS, please visit www.dhs.lacounty.gov.