Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas Touts LA County’s Newest Clinic With Integrated Care

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas Tours LA County’s Newest One-Stop Clinic Offering Primary Care, Mental Health Treatment, Public Health Preventive Care – All Under One Roof

After a $7.6-million expansion and remodel, the Curtis Tucker Health Center reopened with new and improved low-cost primary and specialty care, warm and welcoming spaces, and enhanced safety measures to protect against COVID-19.

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas cut the ceremonial ribbon at the entrance and led people into Los Angeles County’s first Health Center to be remodeled with fully integrated services in mind. The County Departments of Health Services (DHS), Mental Health (DMH) and Public Health (DPH) joined forces to treat 7,500 patients a year at the Health Center – a 50 percent increase from before the renovation – regardless of their ability to pay.

Adapting to the pandemic, the Health Center will also offer telehealth appointments and drive-thru flu shot clinics. It will also provide immunizations, as well as services for the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, including the administration of pre-exposure prophylaxis (commonly known as PREP), to prevent the spread of HIV.

Once COVID-19 Health Officer orders are lifted, patients and visitors will also benefit from the new 1,300-sq.ft. community room, called the Curtis Tucker Center for Community Wellness, where they can learn about healthy cooking, family wellness, mental health and fitness training.

“This clinic is a model of what integrated care can and should look like. Here, patients can get a warm handoff from one healthcare provider to another and have a range of needs met – all under one roof,” said Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, who played a key role in the project. “With a renovation that focused on community needs, innovative service design and improved connectivity, we are able to provide high-quality care in a high-quality space.”

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts added, “While serving as an Inglewood Police Officer, I knew Curtis Tucker as a resident, Councilman and Assemblyman for the City of Inglewood. It is so fitting that the renovated Curtis Tucker Health Center will provide local, badly needed mental health services right here in the City. I want to thank the Board of Supervisors, and particularly Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, for investing in public health preventive care for this region.”

“We’re very excited to announce the reopening of the Curtis Tucker Health Center providing integrated primary care, behavioral health and substance abuse services for patients in Inglewood and the surrounding areas,” County Health Services Director Dr. Christina Ghaly said.  “Moreover, as part of DHS’ innovative response to the COVID-19 pandemic, over half of our patients are now choosing to get the services they need through our new telehealth technologies. We’re proud to provide access to quality healthcare the way our patients want it.”

The convenience of being able to consult one’s doctor over the phone seems to have improved accessibility. Dr. Ghaly said the no-show rate at DHS facilities has declined 30 percent.

“Hope, recovery and wellbeing are what our communities need during this time of unpredictable and unprecedented, often painful, challenges,” County Mental Health Director Dr. Jonathan Sherin said. “The newly renovated Curtis Tucker Health Center offers residents safe, secure and affordable access to a wide range of lifesaving resources and critical mental health supports.”

County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said, “The Curtis Tucker Center for Community Wellness is yet another step in Public Health’s mission to address inequities throughout our community. By providing a litany of resources and services, including immunizations, HIV AIDS testing and treatment, STD testing, and numerous preventive health services, the Curtis Tucker Center for Community Wellness promises to be a space where the entire community can gather, engage, and learn about health and wellness.”

“This investment in the local community and its public infrastructure addresses a critical need for quality healthcare, good-paying jobs and economic stimulus,” County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella added. “Public Works is proud to partner with County health agencies under the direction of Supervisor Ridley-Thomas to improve the quality of life for residents of Inglewood and surrounding communities.”

The Curtis Tucker Health Center will provide the following services:

County Department of Health Services:

• Primary care

County Department of Mental Health:

• As part of DMH’s Prevention and Early Intervention services, the DMH/DHS Collaboration Program clinician will provide short term, evidence-based mental health treatment to adult DHS patients suffering from depression and/or anxiety.  The DMH clinician works alongside the patient’s DHS provider in a truly integrated effort that de-stigmatizes mental health services and addresses symptoms in their early stages.
• DMH’s Anti Stigma and Discrimination team and Promotoras will provide workshops and classes at the new Community Center.  All classes are to be provided remotely until the Health Officer orders are lifted. Promotoras are Spanish-speaking community health workers who build bridges between clinical care and local residents, helping patients navigate the healthcare system.

County Department of Public Health (starting in 2021)

• Walk-in Nurse Clinic
• HIV AIDS Testing and Treatment
• PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)
• Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Testing and Treatment
• Sharps (needles) container drop-off
• Triage
• Tuberculosis (TB) Screening and Treatment

Curtis Tucker Center for Community Wellness

• The 1,300-sq.ft. community center is a new addition to the existing building, equipped with a kitchen and audio-visual equipment. Once the Health Officer orders are lifted, it will be available even during off-hours and weekends to provide educational programs such as healthy cooking, family wellness, and fitness training.