Frequently Asked Questions

The new Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in South Los Angeles in early 2014. The Hospital will serve the community by providing general acute care, basic emergency services, labor and delivery services, and health education and outreach programs. Radiology, laboratory and blood bank services, as well as other services typical of a community hospital, will be offered. Back to top

The MLK Community Hospital's vision is to be a national model for accessible, collaborative, and culturally sensitive healthcare. Our mission is to provide high quality health education, prevention and medical treatment for a diverse population.

The community the Hospital will serve is home to large numbers of families and workers who are uninsured or underinsured. Working with community health clinics and the outpatient Multi-Ambulatory Care Center, the Hospital's goal is to serve as the neighborhood partner for a sustainable, coordinated health care delivery model in the South Los Angeles area. Back to top

The Martin Luther King, Jr. — Los Angeles Healthcare Corporation (MLK-LA), formed as a private, nonprofit organization, has oversight authority over the Hospital's construction and opening preparations. Ethnic-minority members represent half of the Board of Directors. All were selected for their extensive experience in the health care industry, as well as knowledge and commitment to the community of South Los Angeles. Back to top

The MLK-LA Healthcare Corporation will have responsibility for operating the Hospital. In addition to ensuring strong business practices and high quality patient care, the MLK-LA Healthcare Corporation's Board of Directors will look to civic and philanthropic partners to help sustain the Hospital's long-term ability to serve the community's health needs. Back to top

The County of Los Angeles has provided the capital funds needed to build the Hospital. It has also made a commitment to assist with the cost of providing care to uninsured or underinsured patients. The University of California (UC) health care system, through its UCLA campus, will play a leadership role in hospital-based professional services and in developing and maintaining high quality standards for patient care. Back to top

To design the Hospital to the community's needs, and to determine services appropriate to its planned size, the MLK-LA Healthcare Corporation and the County of Los Angeles reviewed a substantial amount of public information, analysis, demographic data and historical documentation regarding the community's socio-economic make-up and health care needs. Additionally, community outreach activities were conducted to help ascertain community priorities, concerns and aspirations. Once opened, the hospital will periodically conduct additional community health needs assessments to continue this process. Back to top

A relationship between the Charles Drew University (CDU) and the new Hospital is being actively discussed with CDU leadership and the MLK-LA board. No definitive relationship has been established at this time, but it is anticipated that the university will eventually play a role in the new Hospital. Back to top

The Hospital is located near 120^th Street and Wilmington Avenue in South Los Angeles, on a campus with several other facilities focused on serving the health needs of the community. Los Angeles County currently operates a Multi-Service Ambulatory Care Center (MACC) that will be redesigned to connect to the new Hospital. The County-operated Augustus Hawkins Mental Health Center is also a campus facility. The most recent campus addition is the new MLK Center for Public Health that focuses on preventive care. Back to top

The Hospital will provide general inpatient medical and surgical care, labor and delivery services, basic emergency services, imaging and laboratory services, and health education and outreach programs. Back to top

The outpatient services of the MACC will continue to include general medicine, HIV/AIDS treatment, cardiology, diabetes treatment, dermatology, dentistry, geriatrics, neurology, and physical therapy. Back to top

The MLK Community Hospital will not serve as a Level One Trauma Center. This technical designation requires special accreditation and numerous medical specialties unavailable in a community hospital setting. Hospital leadership and the County of Los Angeles have worked closely together to establish arrangements that will ensure patient transport to qualified trauma facilities within the area. In addition, the new Hospital will not offer a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), organ transplant, interventional/diagnostic cardiology, heart/vascular surgery, neurosurgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, chemical dependency or rehabilitation services. Back to top

A critical component of the Hospital planning is the development of shared service agreements between the private nonprofit Hospital and County outpatient services like the MACC. Additionally, the Hospital is already working closely with the network of community-based clinics in South LA to integrate health services and information through approaches including electronic networks and care coordinators. Back to top

Yes. The new Hospital is expected to serve all members of the community who require medical assistance and services. The Hospital will also offer assistance to all patients to obtain health insurance coverage. Back to top

Yes. The Hospital will provide services to all patients regardless of immigration status. Back to top

The Hospital encourages and supports applications from candidates within the local community. More specifics about timing, job opportunities and training will be made available through public announcements, including postings on this website and the Los Angeles County website of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. Back to top