APLA Health and Supervisor Ridley-Thomas Cut Ribbon on New Community Health Center
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and APLA Health cut the ribbon on Los Angeles County’s newest community health center. APLA Health – Olympic Health Center will offer people living and working in West Hollywood, Hollywood, Miracle Mile and Central Los Angeles access to quality primary medical and mental healthcare; HIV specialty care and support services, as well as HIV and STD screening and treatment and prevention services – including PrEP counseling and management. This newest health center is in the Hollywood-Wilshire Health district, which has the highest rate of people living with HIV in Los Angeles County.
“As we cut the ribbon on this new health center and commemorate World AIDS Day in Los Angeles County and around the world, we remember the friends and family we have lost but also celebrate the extraordinary progress we have made and recommit ourselves to the mission of achieving an AIDS-free generation, something that APLA Health has been working toward for 35 years,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
“At full capacity, this clinic will serve over 5,000 individuals regardless of their race/ethnicity, ability to pay, sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status,” said Craig E. Thompson, CEO of APLA Health. “Not only will they receive quality care in a state-of-the-art medical facility; they will be met by a staff that is eager to serve them with compassion and empathy.”
“A lot has happened since the virus was discovered in 1981. Currently, more than 35 million people are living with HIV around the world and millions more have come together to fight this disease; including all of us at APLA Health,” said Dr. Jay Gladstein, Site Medical director for APLA Health-Olympic. “It’s not just emerging medical technologies that will end this epidemic; but also the hard work of those who guarantee access to care. APLA Health can provide healthcare to anyone; regardless of their life circumstances.”
The new health center is in the Olympia Medical Plaza located at 5901 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 310, Los Angeles, CA. The new state of the art facility has nine exam rooms, a lab, a dispensary, a large and comfortable patient waiting room, private medical offices and ample provider work areas in an open office layout. The facility was designed by Klawiter & Associates and the general contractor was Evilsizer Construction.