Street Medicine at MLKCH

Leaders in Innovative Care for Unhoused Patients in South LA

What we do

Street medicine is a model of healthcare that delivers care directly to people facing homelessness, addressing their unique needs in their own environment.

At MLK Community Healthcare, we support our unhoused patients in South Los Angeles with essential services—from basic wound care and routine check-ups to referrals for specialized behavioral health treatment. We also help our patients navigate pathways to secure housing and other social support services.

We’re proud to have the very first state-certified street medicine department in California. This gives us a greater capacity to provide our most vulnerable patients with ongoing care, dedicated resources, a growing multidisciplinary team and strong community partnerships.

This kind of long-term commitment is vital in South LA—a region with the second largest concentration of unhoused people in Los Angeles County.

Many of our patients often get discharged from the hospital out into a healthcare abyss in South LA. We want to fill that abyss with the services and care our unhoused patients need and to break the cycle of illness they face.

Dr. Sarat Varghese,

MLKCH Street Medicine Department medical director

Impact in Action

At the heart of our approach is establishing a foundation of trust and credibility within our community. As a result, we have built meaningful connections, increased patient compliance with their plan of care and improved health outcomes for some of South LA’s most vulnerable residents.

Since 2022, we’ve seen:

150+ patients served every month
Four (4) Street Medicine appointments per patient, on average, for comprehensive follow-up care
- 99% of patients attend each follow-up appointment, ensuring improved health and supporting self-care
A 21% reduction in MLKCH emergency room readmissions
Nearly a 15% reduction in hospitalizations at MLKCH

Fewer emergency visits and hospitalizations reflect our team’s success in meeting our patients’ needs—right where they are.

How Street Medicine at MLKCH works - Meeting people where they are

We engage unhoused patients in their own environment and on their own terms to improve health outcomes.

Meet Arthur - Health Beyond Medicine

“The team’s street mentality is really good, and they give these signs that they really, really care about you.”

Arthur became a Street Medicine patient without ever stepping foot into our hospital, first connecting with our team while they were meeting with another patient. Over the last two years, in addition to routine check-up appointments, our team has helped Arthur secure health insurance, get job counseling and secure access to housing.

Meet Willie - True Continuity of Care

“I know Street Medicine is gonna come, and when they come, I’m going to be here.”

Willie was often in and out of the emergency room with complications from an old leg wound until he was connected to the Street Medicine team at MLKCH. After helping him get the surgery he desperately needed, they now regularly provide him with follow-up care right on his block.

Our services include:

Primary Care: Routine check-ups, chronic disease management, vaccinations and screenings.

Mental Health Services: Counseling referrals for mental health needs.

Harm Reduction: We provide education, clean supplies and overdose prevention tools to support safer health practices.

Housing Support: Assistance with housing stability, retention and legal advocacy.

Our integrated care team

Our Street Medicine teams are comprised of clinical experts that provide integrated care with a community-based approach, as well as referrals to housing, food and other resources. Many of our team members are from South LA and understand the challenges our patients face firsthand.

Our teams include:

A physician
A social worker
An occupational therapist
A registered nurse care coordinator
A nurse practitioner
A psychiatric nurse
A community outreach coordinator

Leadership

Dr. Sarat Varghese
Medical Director

Jessica Nunez
Street Medicine Department Director

Street Medicine in action:

Taking care beyond the hospital walls

Get involved

Interested in learning more about Street Medicine at MLKCH? Send an email to streetmedicine@mlkch.org.
To schedule a personal visit, contact Sharon Padua at spadua@mlk-chf.org or (310) 592-4982.

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