Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital opens its doors

The brand-new facility will serve 1.35 million residents of South Los Angeles, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay

LOS ANGELES (January 27, 2015)—Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital (MLKCH) today announced that the hospital is now fully licensed, accredited, and opening to the public on Tuesday, July 7, 2015. An opening dedication is scheduled for August 7, 2015.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital is a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility, with all new equipment, technology, staff, and administration. MLKCH has a total of 131 beds, including 93 medical/surgical beds, 20 intensive care beds, and 18 obstetrical beds. Inpatient specialties will include Anesthesiology, Cardiology, Emergency Services, Gastroenterology, General Medicine, General Surgery, Infectious Diseases, Neurology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Otolaryngology, Pathology, Radiology, Pulmonary Medicine, and Urology. The hospital’s medical staff includes six hospital-based physician groups that will be on-site 24/7.

“After much hard work and dedication, we are excited to open our doors to the public,” said MLKCH’s Chief Executive Officer, Elaine Batchlor, MD, MPH. “We designed this hospital from the ground up to meet the urgent health needs of our community, and we are eager to welcome them. Working with our staff, physicians, and partners at the County of Los Angeles and the University of California healthcare system, we are bringing compassionate, collaborative, quality care to South Los Angeles.”

MLKCH has completed licensure by the California Department of Public Health, and accreditation by The Joint Commission, a national agency that monitors healthcare organizations and promotes the highest standards of quality and patient safety. The Emergency Department, Labor and Delivery, and other hospital services will be open for patient care on July 7th.

“MLKCH will be a leading model of innovative, collaborative, community health care,” added Dr. Batchlor. “We have assembled a world-class healthcare team that includes highly-qualified clinical leaders and a diverse, multilingual staff. MLKCH will be a leading force in addressing the long-standing health disparities in our community.”

About Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital

Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital is a private, nonprofit, safety-net hospital, administered by the Martin Luther King, Jr. - Los Angeles Healthcare Corporation (MLK-LA), a 501(c)(3) organization. The 131-bed community hospital has a 21-bed emergency department, 20 ICU beds, and 18 labor, delivery, and postpartum beds. The hospital’s mission is to provide compassionate, innovative and quality care, and collaborating with providers and our community to create a healthier South Los Angeles. The hospital will serve 1.35 million residents of South Los Angeles regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.